Jeremy Henwood (In Memorial) Uncommon Valor In Peace & War

(CLEVELAND) - Most people heard about the tragic death of Jeremy Henwood, a San Diego city police officer who in his 'other life' was a U.S. Marine officer.

He was gunned down at a stoplight, unsuspecting, because he rolled up next to two criminals who assumed he may have been looking for them.

However while sitting in his police cruiser, waiting for the light to turn green, the passenger in the car next to Jeremy's pulled the trigger and his life came to an unsuspecting close.

Having recently returned from a deployment to Afghanistan, this Marine Captain had gone through a great deal to reach the point in his life that a rogue gunman would simply snuff him.

This police and Marine officer had, just moments before being killed, helped a young lad pay for his cookies at McDonald's, and it was videotaped.

That was this man's final act, before being victimized by a stranger's bullet. The odds are almost certain that Jeremy did not know the men in the adjacent car were wanted.

Jeremy Henwood (In Memorial) Uncommon Valor In Peace & War

Wow! San Diego, California not Detroit, New York, Chicago or LA,
Unprovoked attack on a proudly worn blue uniform shatters the day,
Completed tours of combat duty one in Afghanistan and two in Iraq,
This USMC Captain gunned downed stateside via a cowardly attack.

Whenever there is police intervention many will play the race card,
Viewing a security camera from McDonald's restaurant it's not hard,
Given the lighting inside at the counter & outside the sun did shine,
It's easy to see that this hero in uniform was completely colorblind.

"Officer Friendly" is a term rarely associated in Black neighborhoods,
As law enforcement is hardly meant to portray anything that is good,
Tell that to Daveon Tinsley 13, who entered Mickey D's short of cash,
He was dime short as the cop opened his wallet & used his own stash.

You never get a second chance to make a first impression, oh how true,
However, kindness from the, "good guys" is neither rare nor is it new,
Yet if the video equipment wasn't working this story would have died,
And without the proof if the kid retold the deed it he'd be telling a lie.

Soon afterwards a black Audi behind the police cruiser flashed its lights,
Okay, just another citizen requiring assistance, this too would be all right,
Pulling over Officer Henwood put down his window, a blast to the head,
Not from a pistol but a shotgun & injuries so severe, next day he's dead.

Mention a killer's name alongside a man who served his country well?
Naw! Just as long as he answers Satan when his name is called in hell,
In their brief conversation the kid said he wanted to play in the NBA,
Then Jeremy said work hard with a smile saying, "one day you may."

Jeremy leaves behind proud patents, loving brother & sister, must be hard,
"The eyes of the Lord run to & fro." There! My new Captain of the Guard,
America, no the whole world doesn't need less dedication it needs more,
Foot Soldiers whose way of life is, "Uncommon Valor in Peace & War."

By Luke Easter

Luke Easter is a poet who writes about things that are very close to the heart of Salem-News.com. Another former U.S. Marine, Luke heals the world with an approach that reaches people on a different level, one known for centuries, yet too often forgotten in the one we live in.

We live in a world of social & economic injustice. The main reason for founding America in the first place was to relieve the oppression of the King of England. Patrick Henry said it best, “give me liberty or give me death.” And yet, all too often death seems to be the only way out. Why is there such a high suicide rate especially among teens, in the land of the free & the home of the brave? What makes headlines? Good news? Ha! More depressing stories than anything else. I feel poetry takes an edge off the hurt of bad news while still delivering it but in a, “glitzy” sort of way. Giving a different perspective. Kind of like slap in the face as opposed to a knife in the back. At least with the slap you’ll live to see another day and you will know whom it’s from. I wasn’t here for the beginning of the world but at 59, I just might be here for the end.

Even though it’s still a knife, rhyme poetry helps to dull the blade. And that’s my job. You can write to Luke Easter at: lyricsfromlucas@aol.com

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COLLI August 29, 2011 7:13 pm (Pacific time)

Luke: Touching and meaningful just doesn't do this poem justice. This is truly outstanding. Your words can not only be read . . . they can be felt. Thank you for that.

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