> >                               A Poem Worth Reading > >                               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's so easy to forget them, >                               For it is so many times >                               That our Bobs and Jims and Johnnys, >                               Went to battle, but we know, > >                               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." > >                               Pass On The Patriotism! >                               YOU can make a difference > > > >                               > > > >