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 he had fought in
and the deeds that he had won,
in his exploits with his buddies,
they were heroes, everyone.
And though sometimes to his neighbors,
his tales became a joke,
all his legion buddies listened,
for they knew of where 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 Solider died today.
He'll not be mourned by many,
just his children and his wife,
for he lived an ordinary
and quite uneventful kind of life.
Held a job and raised a family,
quietly going his own way,
and the world won't note his passing,
though a Solider died today.
When politicians leave this earth,
their bodies lie in state,
and thousands note their passing
and proclaim that they were great
Newspapers tell their life stories,
from the time that they were young,
but the passing of a simple Soldier
goes unnoticed and unsung.
Is the greatest contribution
to the welfare of our land
a person who breaks 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?
It's so easy to forget them,
for it was so long ago,
that the "Old Bob's" of our country
went to battle, but we know.
It was not the politicians,
with their compromises and ploys,
who won for us the freedom
that our country now enjoys.
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 others often start.
If we cannot give him honor
while he's here to hear the praise,
then at least let's give him homage,
at the endings of his days.
Perhaps a simple notice,
in a paper that would say:
"Our Country is in mourning,
cause a Soldier passed away."
Unknown Author
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