Salute the brave, the patriot supreme,
Salute the Hero, who showed us the dream,
Salute the youth, who rose like a man,
Salute the player who was a superman.

You charted new path, you had no fear,
You made us safe, no foes came near,
You rose to greater heights of fame,
You died a soldier, you won the game.

You fought for freedom in a distant land,
You fought real terror, in enemy's hand,
You fought for justice, for people who miss,
You set your sights for heavenly bliss.

We mourn the loss of the boy we tailed,
We mourn the loss of the youth we hailed,
We mourn the man missing from sight,
We mourn the star that shines so bright.

You are the symbol of nation's cream,
You are the symbol of ideals supreme,
You are the icon we can only dream,
You are the banner for American team.

You are the pillar of the nation, my dear,
You are the pillar of strength, my dear,
You are the pillar of pride, my dear,
You are the pillar for future, my dear.

As long as the skies hover above all,
As long as Earth sustains life for all,
As long as the Sun, the Moon don't depart,
So long dear Pat, you will live in our heart.

Yatindra Bhatnagar

[For American NFL player-turned soldier Pat Tillman who walked away from a multi-million dollar contract to join the military. He died, April 22, 2004 serving his country in Afghanistan. Written the same day.]