Thank You Soldiers for your sacrifice

I'm cheating, using someone else's words. I admit that there is alot that's wrong in this country, but I am still thankful I was born here and live here and Monday I remember all who have served. I will be sitting within shouting distance of home plate at the new Cardinals stadium singing the national anthem....and I am thankful that I don't have to worry (much) about the place being blown to smithereens.



A Veteran Died Today(Author Unknown)
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 old 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 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 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 that he gives.
While the ordinary Veteran, who has 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 and Jims and Johnnys, went to battle, but we know.
It was not the politicians and 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 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,
Than 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