This Just In

This poem was forwarded to me in an email from my Dad.? It brought tears to my eyes, and I thought it was well written.? Not only that, but it?beautifully expresses?exactly what I think, and how I feel about this issue.? I don’t like email forwards as a rule, so I won’t ever share them with you, I promise–this poem was an exception however, and I would bet my last dollar that when you’re done reading it, you won’t mind that I did.

A Soldier Died Today

?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 neighbours
??? 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 it is so many times
??? 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 honour
??? 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 simply headline
??? In the paper that might say:
??? “OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
??? A SOLDIER DIED TODAY.”

Let this one sink in,

S.

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