Fathers In the Clouds

I stand on the Bow
As we sail through St. Clair
I watch to Make sure
That my Ship will stay clear

Then off in the distance
I hear a great roar
Its a sound i had heard
A thousand times before

It brought me back
To when i was just a kid
Playing at the Base Rec
as most Bratts Did

When up in the sky
Came a thunderous roar
It was 4 A-7 Corsairs
An man did they soar

As they flew by
One Bratt Said "whats is that sound?"
I just pointed to the sky
And said "that's my father in the clouds"

Then another asked
"which ones is him?"
With a flap of his wings
I Knew is that was his

As i think Back
To those trips to the base
I come to understand
The challenges my dad faced

He was protecting something
We hold true
He was protecting in the skies
Over the Red,White and Blue

But up there
My Dad wasn't alone
He had Brothers with him
Guarding the skies above our homes

Brothers like Gary, Rudy
And i cant forget Wally Wick
Whose Jet Crashed on the runway
But he escaped, what a trick

What i am trying to say
These men are Fathers much like my own
That have Sons & Daughters
Of there Own

They protect them through life
Not only in the sky
But at home and at play
Basically all of there lives

And sometimes we don"t understand them
Say and do things we regret
But there Unconditional love
Forgives us for the things we have said

Because they are teaching us
To be good parents
For when it becomes our time
Like they were taught
By there fathers
Back in there younger lives

What i am trying
To make you understand
There are Fathers
All over this land

Some are still with us
And some have passed on
Like my Grandpa Ed
And my Dads Buddy Jon
Even though this is sad
Its not what's taken
But whats left behind
That unconditional Love for for us to pass on

So as I stand on the Bow
of this ship
I remember the past
and look on to the future trips
When I too will be a father
With children to catch
When they Slip

And now when I here that Great Roar
In the skies up above
I think of the Past and the Present
And the Fathers we love

This time my Captain Asks
"whats that sound?"
I stand proud, point to the sky
And say "that's our fathers in the clouds"


I wrote this for my Father LT. Col Raymond E. Belz Sr.
The Greatest Hero that i ever known

Love your son
Watchmen Raymond E. Belz Jr.
S.S. Arthur M. Anderson

This is also Dedicated to Gen. Gary Bahling Gen Rudy Rudolph, Wally Wick and the rest of the 107th Red Devils who kept my Father safe in the clouds and Dedicated to the Memory of Edward Belz (Gramps), Jon Bewley and John Blowers. In the Hearts of there Family's, may there words be not forgoten