Winged Warrior

Winged Warrior With his hand over his faded heartbeat Tuskegee airman, Ohio’s son, Takes off in a flight plan for eternal terminals This living aviator legend – Whose heart looked up to soar on metal wings - Flew through skies torn by warring clouds And kissed the earth when landing once again Knew only well discrimination’s determination to clip his wings This December child, forever linked in birth to a day of infamy When battleships lay impotent at the bottom of a harbor’s pearl, Logs his last flight plan - A general with a single star to grace his epaulettes - Salutes his heavenly commander in chief To leave jet trails of victory across Heaven’s pure air of blue– Wearing on his tribute stone a Distinguished Flying Cross – A Bronze Star – Flies through all barriers of race above the slurs After launching younger dreams of flight in a life of service As his last mission takes him home – No mission impossible - Past the jealous bonds of earth soaring into eternity, Into the welcome caress of God who takes the controls Who was and always will be his Heaven sent co-pilot. Tribute to General Charles McGee – a Tuskegee Airman who never let discrimination clip the wings of his dreams to become a military pilot during WWII. He flew over 400 mission in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Born December 7, 1919. Flew home January 16, 2022 at the age of 102. 4-7-22 Contest: Brian Strand Standard Sponsor: Brian Strand