Remember our Soldiers, past and present <--- a Poem

He was getting old and wrinkly 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 though sometimes to his neighbors his tales became a joke,
but all of his buddies listened, for they knew of where he
spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer, for ol' Frankie passed
away,
and the world's a lil poorer, for a soldier died today.
He wont be mourned by many, just his chidren 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 wont note the passing that a soldier died today.
When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,
while thousands note their passing and proclaim that he was
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 promises and cons is fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow, who in times of war and strife,
goes off to serve his country and offer up his life?
The politician's stipend and the style in which he lives,
are sometimes disproportinate to the service that he gives.
While the ordinary soldier who offered up his all,
is paid off with a medal, and a pension.......very small.
It's so easy to forget them, for it is so long ago,
that the Frank's and Erc's and Roberto's, went to battle, but WE
know.
It was not the politicians with their compromise and ploys,
who won for us our 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 a pen in his right
hand?
Or would you want a soldier, sworn to defend his land?
His home, his family, his country, until the very end?
He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,
but his presence should remind us, we may need his kind again.
For when countries are in conflict we find the soldier's part,
to clean up all the troubles that politicians start.
If we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear our praise,
then at least give him his homage at the ending of his days.
Perhaps a simple headline, in the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, FOR A SOLDIER DIED TODAY"