A soldier died today

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WoodiE

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While attending a Memorial Day service at Camp Nelson this morning I heard this poem, thought I'd pass it on...



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.
 
absolutely beautiful! +1 once again thanks for that post
 
Very nice. Today I donned my "Support Our Troops" hat. My daughter gave it to me a few years ago, camo with a yellow ribbon. I save this hat and keep it nice for occasions like today.

On another note, we need a "Like" button.
 
Awesome poem...God bless our soldiers!
 
Very nice. Today I donned my "Support Our Troops" hat. My daughter gave it to me a few years ago, camo with a yellow ribbon. I save this hat and keep it nice for occasions like today.

On another note, we need a "Like" button.
I wore a similar hat today as yours. How can we not recognize these great heroes? Everyday they risk all that they have for us and our freedom. Today I am thankful and grateful. God bless our troops.
 
I wore a similar hat today as yours. How can we not recognize these great heroes? Everyday they risk all that they have for us and our freedom. Today I am thankful and grateful. God bless our troops.

My father was a Marine, stationed in the Philippines and Guam near the end of the Vietnam war. He was given a medical discharge for mental issues that he didn't have before he enlisted. He's still alive today, thankfully, but he's never been right since. The thing is, he never saw combat, so I really have to wonder what they did to him in the time he was there.

I know many who have served our country, regardless of the Commander in Chief that passed down the order, and I tell them that they deserve much more than we give them.
 
My father was a Marine, stationed in the Philippines and Guam near the end of the Vietnam war. He was given a medical discharge for mental issues that he didn't have before he enlisted. He's still alive today, thankfully, but he's never been right since. The thing is, he never saw combat, so I really have to wonder what they did to him in the time he was there.

I know many who have served our country, regardless of the Commander in Chief that passed down the order, and I tell them that they deserve much more than we give them.
WOW. No kidding.....my grandfather was home on a leave back around the same time you're talking about. And my grandmother was pregnant with my mom. Well, long story short, gramps had to head back out to fight and just as he was getting on the plane, he got a message that my gram was having the baby. Sooo, gramps stayed behind, and the plane he was supposed to get on went down killing all that was on it. I just heard this story about 2 years ago for the first time. I couldn't believe it. Some gave some, most give all....
 
Today I put on my uniform and went to work. The same way myself and several other military here on this site did. Remember we are here for all of you. You are why we do it, out of love and the belief of our Country, Constitution and what it stands for. Regardless of politics, religion, race, color or creed I will stand proudly and die for each and every one of you....out of love. It is the commitment we make to you; my fellow countrymen. It is easy to forget what we really have here in America sometimes but I have seen some of the worst this world has to offer. I have seen things that haunt me still 10 years later and most likely always will. But as we stand in front of the flag and salute it reminds me of why we do it. God bless you all thanks for helping keep us all strong.
MSgt JB

Oh yeah...Woodie...great poem
 
Today I put on my uniform and went to work. The same way myself and several other military here on this site did. Remember we are here for all of you. You are why we do it, out of love and the belief of our Country, Constitution and what it stands for. Regardless of politics, religion, race, color or creed I will stand proudly and die for each and every one of you....out of love. It is the commitment we make to you; my fellow countrymen. It is easy to forget what we really have here in America sometimes but I have seen some of the worst this world has to offer. I have seen things that haunt me still 10 years later and most likely always will. But as we stand in front of the flag and salute it reminds me of why we do it. God bless you all thanks for helping keep us all strong.
MSgt JB

Oh yeah...Woodie...great poem

If you stood before me I would shake your hand and seriously give you a hug and thank you for all of your services, even though I cannot shake all of the hands of those who protect our precious country, I can still respect them sometimes more than anything I cherish! So thank you & all who served!
 
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Today I put on my uniform and went to work. The same way myself and several other military here on this site did. Remember we are here for all of you. You are why we do it, out of love and the belief of our Country, Constitution and what it stands for. Regardless of politics, religion, race, color or creed I will stand proudly and die for each and every one of you....out of love. It is the commitment we make to you; my fellow countrymen. It is easy to forget what we really have here in America sometimes but I have seen some of the worst this world has to offer. I have seen things that haunt me still 10 years later and most likely always will. But as we stand in front of the flag and salute it reminds me of why we do it. God bless you all thanks for helping keep us all strong.
MSgt JB

Oh yeah...Woodie...great poem

I think I speak for all of us in saying thank you. I know some troops don't feel appreciated when coming home because of the treatment they get from those who don't believe we should be fighting. But when I see a soldier, or any member of the Armed Services, I make him/her feel welcome, and proud of what they do.

So again, thank you, no matter what I feel about the political bs, I still feel honored to have the brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces fighting for what I have.
 
To all of those who served their Country:

You are my brothers and sisters in arms. Those who have fallen will not be forgotten as long as one of us remains.
 
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