This was forwarded to me today by my friend who lost her soldier husband last year. These family's really deserve our respect and our admiration..

> Daddy's Poem

>

> ----------------------

>

> Her hair was up in a pony tail,

> Her favorite dress tied with a bow.

> Today was Daddy's Day at school,

> And she couldn't wait to go.

>

> But her mommy tried to tell her,

> That she probably should stay home.

> Why the kids might not understand,

> If she went to school alone.

>

> But she was not afraid;

> She knew just what to say.

> What to tell her classmates

> Of why he wasn't there today.

>

> But still her mother worried,

> For her to face this day alone.

> And that was why once again,

> She tried to keep her daughter home.

>

> But the little girl went to school

> Eager to tell them all.

> About a dad she never sees

> A dad who never calls. There were daddies along the wall in back,

> For everyone to meet.

> Children squirming impatiently,

> Anxious in their seats

>

> One by one the teacher called

> A student from the class.

> To introduce their daddy,

> As seconds slowly passed.

>

> At last the teacher called her name,

> Every child turned to stare.

> Each of them was searching,

> A man who wasn't there.

>

> 'Where's her daddy at?'

> She heard a boy call out.

> 'She probably doesn't have one,'

> Another student dared to shout.

>

> And from somewhere near the back,

> She heard a daddy say,

> 'Looks like another deadbeat dad,

> Too busy to waste his day.'

>

> The words did not offend her,

> As she smiled up at her Mom.

> And looked back at her teacher,

> Who told her to go on.

> And with hands behind her back,

> Slowly she began to speak.

> And out from the mouth of a child,

> Came words incredibly unique.

>

> 'My Daddy couldn't be here,

> Because he lives so far away.

> But I know he wishes he could be,

> Since this is such a special day.

>

> And though you cannot meet him,

> I wanted you to know.

> All about my daddy,

> And how much he loves me so.

>

> He loved to tell me stories

> He taught me to ride my bike.

> He surprised me with pink roses,

> And taught me to fly a kite.

>

> We used to share fudge sundaes,

> And ice cream in a cone.

> And though you cannot see him.

> I'm not standing here alone.

>

> 'Cause my daddy's al ways with me,

> Even though we are apart

> I know because he told me,

> He'll forever be in my heart'

> With that, her little hand reached up,

> And lay across her chest.

> Feeling her own heartbeat,

> Beneath her favorite dress.

>

> And from somewhere here in the crowd of dads,

> Her mother stood in tears.

> Proudly watching her daughter,

> Who was wise beyond her years.

>

> For she stood up for the love

> Of a man not in her life.

> Doing what was best for her,

> Doing what was right.

>

> And when she dropped her hand back down,

> Staring straight into the crowd.

> She finished with a voice so soft,

> But its message clear and loud.

>

> 'I love my daddy very much,

> he's my shining star.

> And if he could, he'd be here,

> But heaven's just too far.

>

> You see he is a Brittish soldier

> And died just this past year

> When a roadside bomb hit his convoy

> And taught Britians to fear.

> But sometimes when I close my eyes,

> it's like he never went away.'

> And then she closed her eyes,

> And saw him there that day.

>

> And to her mothers amazement,

> She witnessed with surprise.

> A room full of daddies and children,

> All starting to close their eyes.

>

> Who knows what they saw before them,

> Who knows what they felt inside.

> Perhaps for merely a second,

> They saw him at her side.

>

> 'I know you're with me Daddy,'

> To the silence she called out.

> And what happened next made believers,

> Of those once filled with doubt.

>

> Not one in that room could explain it,

> For each of their eyes had been closed.

> But there on the desk beside her,

> Was a fragrant long-stemmed rose.

Thats lovely, big lump in throat though.

I know what you mean 

I had tears streaming all the way through it..