A Veteran Died Today

From a post at Cast Boolits.

A Veteran Died Today

He was getting old and paunchy, and his hair was falling fast; and he sat around the post home, telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he had fought in the deeds that he had done; sharing exploits with his buddies, all were heroes, everyone.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors, his tales became a joke, all his comrades listened, for they know whereof he spoke.
But, we'll hear his tales no longer, of ol' Bob has passed away, and the world's a little poorer, for a Veteran died today.

No, he won't be mourned by many, just his children and his wife, for Bob lived a plain and ordinary sort of life.
He held a job, raised a family and quietly went his way, and the world won't note his passing, 'tho a Veteran died today.

See, when politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state, while thousands note their passing, and proclaim that they were great.
Their life stories are grandly told, from the time 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 promises and cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary person, who in times of war and strife, goes off to serve this Country and offers up his life?

Now, the politician's salary and the style in which he lives, are sometimes disproportionate to the services he gives.
While the ordinary Veteran 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 our Bobs, Jims and Larrys went to battle, that we know.
It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys, who won for us the freedom that our Nation now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger, with an enemy at hand, would you really want some "cop out" with his wishy-washy stand?
Or, would you want a Veteran who swore he would defend God, Country, Family, and would fight until the end.

Yes, he was just a common Veteran and his ranks are growing thin, but his presence still remind us, we may need his kind again.
For when foreigners are in trouble, then the Military's part, is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.

So, if we cannot do him honor, while he's here to hear the praise, then at least let's pay him homage at the ending of his days.
Perhaps a simple headline in the paper that might say.
Our country is in mourning, for a Veteran died today.

--Author unknown