>From: "Joyce Lund" <lundway@rockisland.com> >To: WashingtonDC-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: [WashingtonDC-L] Fw: SOLDIER >Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 14:46:26 -0700 > >Memorial Day Tribute > > >JUST A SIMPLE 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, 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 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, 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 service 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 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." >Author Unknown > >______________________________ > > _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com