SOLDIER

      (Author unknown)

                           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 whereof he spoke.

                           But we'll hear his tales no longer,
                           For old 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,

                         Someone 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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