"A VETERAN DIED TODAY"

He was getting old and paunchy
and his hair was falling out,
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,
they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer,
for ol' Mike has passed away,
and the world's a little poorer,
for a VETERAN 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 VETERAN
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 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 is so long ago,
that our Bobs & Jims & Johnnys,
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 VETERAN
who has sworn to defend,
his home, his kin, and country,
and would fight until the end?

He was just a common VETERAN,
and his ranks are growing thin,
but his presence should remind us,
we may need his likes again.
For when countries are in conflict,
then we find the military'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 VETERAN DIED TODAY."

(J.Doe)