A Soldiers Poem

[Ganmain Tony]

Was going to put this in the funnies thread but didnt seem appropriate.


A Poem Worth Reading
Unknown Author

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 neighbors

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 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 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:

A SOLDIER DIED TODAY!"






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[Eric Korhonen]

That is an amazing poem. Terrible that is it so true, so many of they soldiers do not get the proper respect that they deserve. They should all be honoured for these men and women gave us the freedom we have today.
It should all begin in the schools. I think the children of today are not taught and told in greater detail of what these brave people went through and did for all of us. It should be more than 1 or 2 days around Remembrance Day, it should be a specific modual that is taught to them.
I had 3 uncles overseas during WW#2. They did not want to speak of the war so as a youngster I had no ideas what they went thru. Many years after they had passed away I was able to obtain copies of their military records from Ottawa and have been finding out where they were and what they did. I wish with what I know now I could have spoken to them and let them know how very proud I'am of them.
If you a veteran in your family, give them a hug, shake their hand, tell them you love them and say thank you for they are great people.

Thanks so much for sharing this poem with us.

Eric

[S LATHERON]

So sad and so very true.
For those of use that have not been in the military our selves, we will not have had the good or bad experiences that military personnel have had.
When we read about battles and casualties we are sad. When a soldier reads about casualties in battle he most lightly knew the fallen.His Comrade in arms.
Once battles are over the soldier returns to "normal life". However it can never be as normanl as the life we know. So many people on this forum have said the soliers experiences are largley hidden away till after they have died. Only later when its to late can we start to realise how brave dedicated and possibly alone they were.

R I P where ever you are. We will remember you.

Stephen
Son of a Dunkirk Rear Guard Soldier