A Soldier died today ...

[Graehstone]

In remembrance of ... too many.

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, 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 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.

-author: A. Lawrence Vaincourt

[danforth3]

That is a beautiful and touching memorial. It moved my husband, a retired noncom, to tears as I read it to him. It should be read to all our vets. Thank you sharing for this. It was beautiful.

[Greymom721]

Graeh~ What a beautiful tribute! I pray this not be the case anytime soon...for any more of our wonderful military people! My brother left yesterday to go back to Iraq! I pray hard for all our Military men & women to come home safely!

[Lisa B]

Graeh..thank you for sharing that. i will make sure George see's it in the morning. George is always quiet on Memorial Day. I know he thinks of his fallen friends, and of his dad. We are a 3rd generation military family.
The last choppers to go down a few days ago, were troops attached to my hubby's unit. They were a support unit, combined with his unit that is serving there.
Our son is there also. He is due to be home for a visit in Sept, and returning home in January. This is his second tour of duty in Iraq.


Cindy, your brother will be in my thoughts and prayers.

i hope they all come home soon!

[SweetPea]

Beautiful poem....

To my five uncles who have died in the Vietnam war.... to my uncles and dad who fought and survived it....

To my best friend who is serving in Iraq... to my bf who is active serving across the country..

to all the men and women who have/are dedicated/risk their lives....

In the name and sake of FREEDOM....

Thank you....

[Graehstone]

http://www.forest.ws/WeSupportU.htm :eusa_clap