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' Joe has
passed away,
And
the world's a
little poorer
For a
Veteran 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 Veteran 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 Veteran
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
Veteran,
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 Veteran
His
home, his
country, his
kin,
Just
a common
Veteran,
Who
would fight
until the end.
He
was just a
common
Veteran,
And
his ranks are
growing thin,
But
his presence
should remind
us
We
may need his
likes again.
For
when countries
are in
conflict,
We
find the
Veteran's
part,
Is to
clean up all
the troubles
That
the
politicians
start.
If we
cannot do him
honour
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
VETERAN DIED
TODAY."
