I often wonder how many of our younger generation really understand what Memorial Day really stands for. Our veterans are why we have the freedoms we enjoy today. They are the ones who put their lives in harm’s way so that we can enjoy life as a free nation and not have a dictatorial rule. They are the ones that give us the opportunity to worship God in a religion of our choice and celebrate as a Christian nation that follows the teachings of Jesus.
I am running the following poem so that you may know exactly what the veteran is offered in the public arena after their service. Even though this was written by a Canadian, it speaks well for America also. We need to remember that all veterans gave some but some veterans gave all. This is why we have Memorial Day.
JUST A SIMPLE SOLDIER
© 1985 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, 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.
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 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 the paper that might say: "OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, FOR A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."
Even though he speaks harshly about politicians, please understand that some of these men and women are veterans themselves and some are heroes. But there are many that have never worn the uniform of the United States Military.
God Bless our veterans and we need to show them the respect they deserve, especially the ones that gave their lives fighting for us. I have never heard a war time veteran say there is no God but I have heard many say they talked to Him constantly when in a battle zone.
