Greater love hath no man than
this,
JUST A COMMON SOLDIER
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, every one.
And
tho' sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,
All
his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But
we'll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away,
And
the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today.
He
will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,
For
he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life.
Held
a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,
And
the world won't note his passing, though 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 their whole 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
A
guy who breaks his promises 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?
A
politician's stipend and the style in which he lives
Are
sometimes 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 was so long ago
That
the old Bills of our Country 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 want a politician with his ever-shifting stand?
Or
would you prefer 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 a paper that would say,
OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, FOR A SOLDIER DIED TODAY. c. 1985 A. Lawrence Vaincourt
Recommended Reading for Memorial Day Freedom
Through Military Victory Patriot
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