Memorial day - The Veteran

[Graehstone]

The Veteran

 

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 had fought in

and the deeds that he had done

In his exploits with his buddies;

they were heroes, everyone.

 

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 away

And 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 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 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 ago

That our Bob's and Jim's and Johnny's

went to battle, but we know

 

It 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 defend

His home, his kin, and country,

and 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,

then 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,

FOR A SOLDIER DIED TODAY.

 

by A. Lawrence Vaincourt

 

 

Graehstone: US Air Force 1979 - 1985

[danmcq]

Thanks for posting this Graehstone. I guess being a vet myself, I just bypassed noting this on the forum. :-)

 

Good Poem, a little rough on the politicians, some deserve the ridicule, some don't. Many have served in the armed forces and were exceptional in their performance. JFK - PT 109, General Dwight Eisenhower, just to name but a few.

 

Thanks to all the Veterans on this forum!!

 

DanMcQ - U.S. Army Air Defense 1971 - 1978 Vietnam Veteran ...

[judygram]

Thanks Graehstone for posting that poem being that Monday May 26 is Memorial Day, a day to remember all those who served and died for us while protecting our freedoms and our country.

 

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the veterans on this forum, some of them I know of and some I don't but you have my undying gratitude, I love you all.

 

Dan I didn't know you were a Vietnam Veteran but I do now, thanks........