Just A Common Soldier (A Soldier Died Today)
JUST A COMMON SOLDIER
(A Soldier Died Today)
by A. Lawrence Vaincourt
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.
And 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 will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,
For he lived an ordinary and quite 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 that they were great.
Papers tell their whole 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
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 Country and 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 offered up 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 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 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 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 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 a paper that would say,
Our Country is in mourning, for a soldier died today.
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This Memorial Day take a moment to give a nod, a bit of thanks to the fallen warriors.
I agree. To all who served and didn't come back, my thoughts are with your family and friends for your ultimate sacrifice.
Agreed Randy, these men and women have served our country ''above an beyond''..
Not all die in combat, but die in service anyway.
U.S. soldier dies in Syria after vehicle rolls over
True, and they are just as deserving.
And then there are those who come back broken. 20 veterans a day commit suicide.
That's a very moving poem, with a valuable lesson. In Canada, and other British Commonwealth countries, Remembrance Day, a day with the same purpose as your Memorial Day, is observed on November 11th. There is a reason for that:
Remembrance Day (sometimes known informally as Poppy Day ) is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth of Nations member states since the end of the First World War to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. Following a tradition inaugurated by King George V in 1919, [1] the day is also marked by war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth countries. Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November in most countries to recall the end of hostilities of World War I on that date in 1918. Hostilities formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month", in accordance with the armistice signed by representatives of Germany and the Entente between 5:12 and 5:20 that morning. ("At the 11th hour" refers to the passing of the 11th hour, or 11:00 am.) The First World War officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on 28 June 1919. (Wikipedia)
That day also marks remembrance of those brave members of the armed forces (a cousin of mine among them) who sacrificed their lives in WW2. It is sometimes called "Poppy Day" because on that day veterans sell cloth poppies to raise funds for their legions. While in Canada I always bought at least one on that day, to pin it as is customary over my heart. Why the poppy symbol? During the Great War, Canadian Major John McCrea wrote the famous poem "In Flanders Fields".
Click this link to read about what the poem stands for, and why it was written. There are further links at the end of the article that explain more about the use of the poppy as a symbol of remembrance, in the USA as well.
Bought my VFW Poppy the day before yesterday. I do every year.
I bought my poppy today.
The poem ''Flanders Field'' is heart wrenching.
Thanks for the link Buzz.
I remember when I lived in L.A. I lived less then a mile from the National Cemetery there and in order to get just about anywhere in the city you drove by it. On Memorial Day the sight of all of the tiny flags was beautiful and heart breaking at the same time. 19,000+ of them. It really drove home what the day is for. Instead newspapers are filled with ads for Memorial Day mattress sales and washer and dryer sales and new car sales and on and on. Then there are so many people who look at it as just a three day weekend to BBQ on. It's sad for that too.
Dear Kavika, Randy and Buzz: Every Memorial Day and Fourth of July I go to Veterans Hospitals.
I did many days of the year prior to retirement from full time Chaplaincy.
I spent those and other such days listening, talking with, reading to (for those who no longer can) playing cards or just watching a ball game with those who will never leave the VA Hospital system alive.
It is important for them to have human contact form someone who cares about them.
Knowing they still matter as people, having time in direct contact with someone when they have no one else save paid staff makes a huge difference to them.
Dying on the battlefield is not the worst thing that can happen to a combat veteran.
Being warehoused for the rest fo their life cut off form the very society they sacrificed to protect and living in constant pain and loneliness is.
This is by no means to do anything but show profound respect for those who lost their lives in military service.
The point here is that being there for those who were there fo us when they cannot have lives of their own outside a medical institution is important.
Peace, Blessings, Being Our Brothers and Sisters Keepers Always Makes Sense.
Enoch.
My dear friend Enoch,
Very wise words as usual. Thank you for them. I was in the VA hospital in Battle Creek myself many years ago for a mental condition, though luckily for me it was just for stabilization and not long term. Still I met many who I knew were never going to leave. They told stories of how their friends and families used to visit all of the time when they first became patients, but how the visits had slowed down over the years to where they were only on birthdays and such. It was so sad. I wish there was more I could do.
Randy
Dear Friend Randy: What ever you do counts.
Those in hospitals, nursing homes and prisons for life or very long terms all share the same experience.
"Out of sight, out of mind".
Who ever visits them, they will treasure the time and caring fellowship.
We are social beings. Not meant to go through life alone.
Good man, Randy, You are a good man.
Enoch.
When I lived in Long Beach CA. I was only a few blocks from the VA hospital there. I would have to drive by it every day to and from work.
There was a sign out from that I'll never forget..
''The Price of Freedom is Visible Here''