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john
Apr 9, 2013, 10:10:23 AM4/9/13
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i spent some time at Arlington national cemetery last week. i had
visited there 30+ years ago to visit no one in particular, this time it
was to pay a visit to an old friend. the vastness of the fields of
stones is overwhelming. a simple grave of a humble man who served his
country well. He preferred horses and I dirt bikes, but we shared the
same love of God & country, he would not talk of his accomplishments but
rather the merit of people around him... Donn, i hope you're riding a
fiery stallion in the sky.
john
reminds me of a poem, so here it is:
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 once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.
And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew where of he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For ol' Joe 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,
Going quietly 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 often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.
While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.
It is 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
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who 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 likes again.
For when countries are in conflict,
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,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."
visited there 30+ years ago to visit no one in particular, this time it
was to pay a visit to an old friend. the vastness of the fields of
stones is overwhelming. a simple grave of a humble man who served his
country well. He preferred horses and I dirt bikes, but we shared the
same love of God & country, he would not talk of his accomplishments but
rather the merit of people around him... Donn, i hope you're riding a
fiery stallion in the sky.
john
reminds me of a poem, so here it is:
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 once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.
And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew where of he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For ol' Joe 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,
Going quietly 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 often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.
While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.
It is 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
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who 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 likes again.
For when countries are in conflict,
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,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."
Mike S.
Apr 13, 2013, 10:28:22 PM4/13/13
to
john" <kno...@this.add> wrote in message
news:kk17gf$2j93$1...@news.ett.com.ua...
Kid went to the Cleveland Film Festival and saw a documentary
called "Honor Flight". Had him thinking about his predecessors in a
way I couldn't get him to appreciate. Still playing at the Film Festival
at Tower City tomorrow (Sunday) at least.
Go fast. Take chances.
Mike S.
news:kk17gf$2j93$1...@news.ett.com.ua...
> i spent some time at Arlington national cemetery last week. i had visited
> there 30+ years ago to visit no one in particular, this time it was to pay
> a visit to an old friend.
Hey John,
> there 30+ years ago to visit no one in particular, this time it was to pay
> a visit to an old friend.
Kid went to the Cleveland Film Festival and saw a documentary
called "Honor Flight". Had him thinking about his predecessors in a
way I couldn't get him to appreciate. Still playing at the Film Festival
at Tower City tomorrow (Sunday) at least.
Go fast. Take chances.
Mike S.
Mike S.
Apr 13, 2013, 10:29:24 PM4/13/13
to
http://www.honorflightthemovie.com/see-the-film/
Medina Community theatre May 4
Go fast. Take chances.
Mike S.
Medina Community theatre May 4
Go fast. Take chances.
Mike S.
"john" <kno...@this.add> wrote in message
news:kk17gf$2j93$1...@news.ett.com.ua...
news:kk17gf$2j93$1...@news.ett.com.ua...
john
Apr 13, 2013, 11:01:13 PM4/13/13
to
didn't know they made a movie
thanks for the heads up
my wife did the wwII honor flight
she got to jet into dc hop on a bus
that took them close to the good stuff
all she had to do is push a wheelchair
for a dear friend of ours, we still go
to bars with him even though he's in his 80's
still some spunk left in the old guy.
it's anazing how ones history perspective is centered
from your own date of birth until you encounter a wake up call
john
hated history class in school, love it now
"Mike S."
thanks for the heads up
my wife did the wwII honor flight
she got to jet into dc hop on a bus
that took them close to the good stuff
all she had to do is push a wheelchair
for a dear friend of ours, we still go
to bars with him even though he's in his 80's
still some spunk left in the old guy.
it's anazing how ones history perspective is centered
from your own date of birth until you encounter a wake up call
john
hated history class in school, love it now
"Mike S."
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