Hi Folks: Thought you might enjoy reading on this special day. -John- [email protected] He was getting old and pauchy 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 become a joke, All his buddies listened, For they knew wereof 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 mourn 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 stipened, And the style in which he lives, Are somtimes 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 was so long ago, That our Bobs and Jims and Johnnies Went to battle-but we know! It was not the politicians, With their comprimise 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 And his ranks are growing thin, But his presence should remind us We may need his likes again. For when countries are in conflict, Then we find the soldiers 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 to homage, At the ending of his days. Perhaps just a simple headline In the paper that might say: "OUR COUNTRY IS MOURNING FOR A SOLDIER DIED TODAY." Author unknown.