Don't forget Nov. 11

E

EJL

Guest
He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In 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 quietly
For they knew where of he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For ol' Bob has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.

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,
Going quietly 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 land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that 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 so many times it's so
That our Bobs and Jims and Johnnys,
Went to battle, but we know,

It is 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--
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight until the end.

He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier's part
Is 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 just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
'CAUSE A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."
 
Outstanding EJL.

To all those who have served, THANK YOU!!!:soldier: :soldier: :soldier: :soldier: :soldier:
 
If it wern't for our Vets. The US and 2/3s of Europe would not be free.
 
God Bless All Veterans, my daddy Bob (that was his real name) included. My late Mom served as a WAC volunteer during WWII as well

God Bless the USA.
 
Thanks for the poem. I had read that somewhere before and it meant a lot to me. Thanks for the reminder. I am emailing this to most people I know (edited to include the poem only, of course). I hope that isn't a problem.
 
Thank you EJL!!!!!

Lost my older Brother three years ago to a massive stroke:(

He served 23 years in the Navy Retired about 5 years ago. He was a Gulf war veteran.

So I would like to say thanks to:
SR.Chief M.R.Smith and all of the Men and Women who have served to KEEP OUR COUNTRY FREE!!!!!!
 
Originally posted by 4xchampncountin
Thanks for the poem. I had read that somewhere before and it meant a lot to me. Thanks for the reminder. I am emailing this to most people I know (edited to include the poem only, of course). I hope that isn't a problem.

4X, can you teach me how to do that? PLEASE

Unknown, I FEEL YOUR PAIN, and my almost husband between marriages lost his life to the big C from agent orange in Vietnam 10 years ago this week.

May they ALL BE BLESSED!
 
To all those who served, and a special wish of luck to myself who has an essay test today.
 
To all the Men and Women that have served this great Nation, I salute you.
 
Thanks to Vets alive,and passed on.Your efforts,and bravery are truly appreciated.May God bless you all.:soldier:
 
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