Posted by
nhoop on Wednesday, July 04, 2007 9:05:46 PM
THIS
POEM WAS READ AT NAPONEE'S "CELEBRATE FREEDOM RALLY DAY." For those
that don't know Naponee is a very small town in Nebraska.
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.
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'll not be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary
Quiet and 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 they were great,
Papers tell their life stories from
The time 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 county
An 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 offers 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 the 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 is JUST A COMMON SOLDIER.
And his ranks are growing thin.
And 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 troubles
THAT 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."