The thoughts of our nation were dolefully sad
  When John H. Chafee passed away.
He gave to his country the best that he had
  In every possible way.

Chafee was energetic, good-humored, and nice,
  While battling for fairness and truth.
He once pulled Bruce Sundlun from a hole in the ice
  Many years ago during his youth.

When he heard that we'd entered the Second World War
  Chafee did not hesitate at all.
He left Yale to enlist in U.S. Marine Corps
  And helped invade Guadalcanal

He had fought with valor (to give you an idea,
  He'd been awarded a Purple Heart).
And years later when we were engaged in Korea
  Was again willing to play his part.

After commanding a rifle company
  (At which James Brady wrote he was great),
He returned home to try politics. And Chafee
  Ran for the House of Reps in our state.

He won, was elected minority leader,
  And then ran for the governor's seat.
That too he won (though let me say to the reader,
  Just a few hundred votes from defeat.)

He improved education and the environment
  He was known as "the man you can trust".
The next two terms, he won by a great extent
  For his governance honest and just.

From him, people learned that they didn't have to pander
  To party politics, they could vote candidates
But when Chafee on taxes spoke with utmost candor
  He lost the election in 1968.

He was appointed Secretary of the Navy next year
  During the Vietnam War.
Then stepped down after three years in that great career
  In a run to become Senator.

Though he lost, he was running again four years later
  And won as a Republican in R.I.
(A difficult task for any legislator,
  But Chafee was not just your average guy.)

Though Republican, Chafee soon earned the respect
  Of many who came from both sides of the aisle.
He fought to support what he saw as correct
  Regardless of if 'twas Republican style.

He formed numerous bipartisan committees
  In attempts to achieve what was fair.
One of his biggest goals was to fix the paucity
  Of affordable working health care.

Be it Medicare, Medigap, or Family Leave,
  John Chafee worked diligently.
He helped pass many bills and managed to achieve
  The Task Force on Health Care Quality.

Chafee aimed to increase health care accessibility
  While cutting benefits to the rich.
Sadly his efforts often met with futility
  Thanks to those in a partisan niche.

Yet Chafee never ceased in his noble pursuit
  Of a bipartisan compromise.
Even with Clinton's package of much ill-repute,
  He thought some health-care change would be wise.

If health care was Chafee's second objective,
  The environment was his first.
He helped to pass numerous measures protective
  Of our surroundings on this earth.

Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and even an Act
  To make polluters pay for their crimes.
And by fellow Republicans he was attacked
  Since he seemed far too liberal at times.

But the Senator must be given due accord
  For his key contributions profuse
He'd won every major environmental award,
  Nearly topping the Lorax from Seuss!

As Chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee,
  He helped support mass public transit.
Highways were funded, RIPTA grew in our cities,
  Thanks to what he did to advance it.

He served as bridge 'tween Repubs and Dem'crats
  On the budget where none could agree.
He was known through the Senate precisely for that,
  And helped Rhode Island's economy.

Which is why, after three terms, in 1994
  When the Senate elections came 'round
John Chafee did better than ever before,
  Carrying every city and town.

Even in his last days, Chafee never slowed;
  Restoring cuts from Medicare.
His speech to the Finance Committee had showed
  That of issues, he was still aware.

With characteristic humor and oration
  He helped the bill carry the day.
And for all of these reasons, it's a loss to our nation
  That such a great man passed away.

He was renowned by all as an upstanding gent
  Who was honest, determined, and true.
The country will miss him to a great extent
  Since of men like him there are too few.

(On a personal note from a Rhode Island kid:
  He'd been Senator since I was born.
Let us not forget all the good deeds that he did
  And remember the man as we mourn.)