He has slipped the surly bonds of Earth

Monday morning, early, my best friend and companion  passed away and will be sorely sorely missed.  It was a long and sometimes beautiful struggle and he flew the best he could.   He gave to others in death as he did in life.   A naval service will be held at sea and his ashes will be committed there.    Fly my beloved pilot.  Soar.

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .

Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew —
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.— John Gillespie Magee, Jr