~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, everyone.~

~And 'tho sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke, all his buddies listened, for they knew whereof 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.~

~No, 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, quietly going 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 sometimes disproportionate, to the service 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 long ago, that our Bob's and Jim's and Johnny's, 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 really want some cop-out, with his ever waffling stand?~

~Or would you want 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 toubles, 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, FOR A SOLDIER DIED TODAY.~

~Author Unknown~