John Wayne

A hero, gentle, sturdy, rough
This man with head held high
He gave us hope, when times were tough
On him, we could rely

To lift our spirits up on screen
He knew just what to say
Donned bravery; beret of green
With strength, he paved the way

But mostly sitting horseback on
That lawless, new frontier
When saddled up, he was all brawn
With rifle and no fear

A patriot, he always fought
For right, and we felt pride
That good would triumph evil wrought
With justice not denied

Our nation loved this rugged guy
A film star, even so...
He was a figure, honored high
True grit; no average Joe

The Duke, a name that fits him well
As it's synonymous
For Legend, and he'll always dwell
Within most all of us