I received the following a while back from my former commander and good
friend. The message still hold true, and, with Veterans Day approaching,
now is a good time to reconsider its lessons.
*****
In Memory of the Veterans of All Services in War and Peace
Please Forward.
*****
JUST A SIMPLE SOLDIERHe was getting old and paunchy and his hair was
falling fastAnd he sat around the Legion telling stories of the past,Of a
war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had doneIn his exploits
with his buddies; they were heroes, every one.And 'tho sometimes to his
neighbors, his tales became a joke,All his buddies listened, for they
knew whereof he spoke.But we'll hear his tales no longer, for old Bob has
passed awayAnd the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today.No
he won't be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,For he lived
an ordinary very quiet sort of life,He held a job and raised a family,
quietly going on his way;And the world won't note his passing; 'tho a
soldier died today.When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in
state,While thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were
great,Papers tell of their life stories from the time that they were
young,But the passing of a soldier goes unnoticed, and unsung.Is the
greatest contribution to the welfare of our landSome jerk who breaks his
promise and cons his fellow man?Or the ordinary fellow who in times of
war and strifeGoes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?The
politician's stipend and the style in which he livesAre sometimes
disproportionate to the services he gives,While the ordinary soldier, who
offered up his all,Is paid off with a medal, and perhaps a pension
small.It's so easy to forget them, for it was so long agoThat our Bob's
and Jim's and Johnny's went to battle, but we knowIt was not the
politicians, with their compromise and ploys,Who won for us the freedom
that our country now enjoys.Should you find yourself in danger with your
enemies at hand,Would you really want some cop-out with his ever waffling
stand?Or would you want a soldier who has sworn to defendHis home, his
kin, and country, and would fight until the end?He was just a common
soldier and his ranks are growing thinBut his presence should remind us,
we may need his like again.For when countries are in conflict, then we
find the soldier's partIs to clean up all the troubles that the
politicians start.If we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear the
praise,Then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his
days.Perhaps a simple headline in the paper that might say:OUR COUNTRY IS
IN MOURNING,FOR A SOLDIER DIED TODAY.
-- Anonymous
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