Byrd Eastham was a Department of the Army Civilian who had worked at the JAG School in Charlottesville, Virginia for a number of years.  I was there in the early Seventies and again, in the late Eighties.  He was there both times.

I don’t know what his title was, but he was the commercial artist in our media group.  He could draw anything and bring an artistic flair to any School project.  The JAG School had a reputation for being a cut above in those things it accomplished, and in many cases that translated to the “Byrd-man.”

A few months back, he retired and the School had a gala affair for him.  The Judge Advocate General came down from Washington, DC to officiate over the ceremony.  I was unable to attend, so I prepared the following poem to commemorate the occasion.

The BYRD-Man From C’Ville

It had to happen, and no one’s the blame,
The Byrd-man’s retiring, it’ll never be the same.
He is the institution, the brightness of the School,
Everything he touches, comes out really cool.

By the side entrance stands a pillar,
It came with the new addition.
It was Byrd’s idea as a filler,
For the new entrance’s transition.

For these many years, he’s added humor and style,
Plus energy and competency, and did it with a smile.
The School has many missions, and accomplishes so much,
But nothing goes out the door, without the Byrd-man touch.

To receive a “Byrd original,” will make one shout with glee,
To my extreme good fortune, I ended up with three.
But the tip of the Byrd-man’s pen is the beginning and not the end,
The true value of the Byrd-man is having him as a friend.

This town has an exciting history,
There is even intrigue and mystery.
We JAG’s have added to the lore,
Molding in the city our wonderful Corps.
The task was easier with Byrd’s shinning light
May his future retirement be ever so bright.