Oh my darling brother, you were much too young,To waive your chance of conquering the waves,You were only seventeen, your life not yet begun,So much of life and love you not yet gave.

What were your final thoughts that day, fore now I’ll never know.Why did you have to leave me Tommy O’.

Why couldn’t you have listened and heeded the alarm, When warned of threatening weather hailing hence

Four and one half decades past, since that tragic

day,

A day that shall forever, haunt my mind.

And though it all seemed calm between the river

and the bay,

I lost you in July of 69.

Did it ever cross your minds, ‘perhaps we

shouldn’t go!’

Why did you have to leave me Tommy O’.

I cannot help but wonder if you were living still,

What stories would we share throughout those

years?

Would we sit and sing and drink, until we had

our fill,

As we wipe away fond memories in our tears.

Would you have gotten married and your family

So tonight I light a candle to celebrate your

birth,

And stare intently at your handsome face

For all I have are memories and pictures of

your worth

And bygone years we never can replace.

So happy birthday brother, I love and miss you

so,

Why did you have to leave me Tommy O’.

And weeping in the wake of waves I hear your

sweet echo

Come hold my hand, your brother Tommy O.’

In Loving Memory of my

brother

Thomas Edwin Gary

28 January 1952 - 12 July

1969

Patrick M. Gary