by Albert Baldeo
Death must not weaken, define or defeat us,
Not now, not ever,
Our hearts pour out for you,
Our fallen heroes,
Our tears flow like the mighty Kaieteur Falls,
A Nation in crisis mourns,
But our collective grief must not overwhelm us,
Our Golden Arrowhead salutes you,
Resolutely from our half-mast humility,
A Nation mourns your loss,
For when you cry in Guyana, we mourn in Little Guyana,
The celebration of your lives will lift us up,
Lieutenant Colonel Michael Charles, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Shahoud, Retired Brigadier Gary Beaton, Lieutenant Colonel Sean Welcome and Sergeant Jason Khan,
Martyrs for a righteous cause,
Soldiers for freedom,
Heroes of Guyana,
Now and forever,
Your names and memory will forever be inscribed in history’s glory,
Dear comrades, we salute you with pride, and gratitude,
Your immortal glory will be forever remembered,
The cause will never die,
Long live peace and justice,
The right to freedom, territorial sovereignty and self-determination,
The mighty Essequibo roars to say,
Emphatically to the world,
I am a child of Guyana, and to Guyana I belong,
From Independence to Eternity,
I am Guyanese,
And Guyanese, proudly, I will always remain.
