Born in New York May 31, 1819, Walt Whitman was a true American servant. He loved his country so much that he named his sons in honor of presidents Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson. During the Civil War, Whitman moved to Washington DC to serve as a nurse for those wounded in battle, whether they were Union or Confederate soldiers. His belief in unity is reflected in his poetry. He published his poetry about his experiences with the war in his 1865 collection, Drum-taps. This collection was then incorporated into his fifth edition printing of Leaves of Grass in 1871.
Walt Whitman's made the following quote to characterize his poetry "The Americans of all nations at any time upon the earth have probably the fullest poetical nature. The United States themselves are essentially the greatest poem" We can see his respect and gratitude for the soldier fighting for their country in his poem:

"Dirge for Two Veterans"

The last sunbeam
Lightly falls from the finish’d Sabbath,
On the pavement here—and there beyond, it is looking,
Down a new-made double grave.

Lo! the moon ascending!
Up from the east, the silvery round moon;
Beautiful over the house tops, ghastly phantom moon;
Immense and silent moon.

I see a sad procession,
And I hear the sound of coming full-key’d bugles;
All the channels of the city streets they’re flooding,
As with voices and with tears.

I hear the great drums pounding,
And the small drums steady whirring;
And every blow of the great convulsive drums,
Strikes me through and through.

For the son is brought with the father;
In the foremost ranks of the fierce assault they fell;
Two veterans, son and father, dropt together,
And the double grave awaits them.

Now nearer blow the bugles,
And the drums strike more convulsive;
And the day-light o’er the pavement quite has faded,
And the strong dead-march enwraps me.

In the eastern sky up-buoying,
The sorrowful vast phantom moves illumin’d;
(’Tis some mother’s large, transparent face,
In heaven brighter growing.)

O strong dead-march, you please me!
O moon immense, with your silvery face you soothe me!
O my soldiers twain! O my veterans, passing to burial!
What I have I also give you.


The moon gives you light,
And the bugles and the drums give you music;
And my heart, O my soldiers, my veterans,
My heart gives you love.



In the Bible, Jesus said- "There is no greater love than a man lay down his life for a friend." This ultimate sacrifice is made all the time by soldiers for their country. Do you know a veteran, soldier, or family of a soldier? There is no better time than the present to honor them for their sacrifice, just as Walt Whitman did more than a century ago.