A little over a year ago, I lost three of my best friends within a month - they belonged to the same Masonic Lodge that I do - all three were great fellows and all three were veterans. One had been a
Sailor, one an Airman and one a Soldier. When we were all home in the spring and summer months from the various locations that we all spent the winter in, we would meet at the local Legion at least once a month to have lunch and solve the world's problems.
Earl, who had been in the Navy, had served as enlisted on a Navy "Tender" during the Korean Conflict and he remained in the Naval Reserve for years, retiring as a Captain. I was cleaning the drawers in my desk here in Arizona this past week and I ran across a copy of the following poem that Earl had E-mailed me several years ago. I apologize for not knowing the author, but I think he took the poem out of a Navy publication for Navy veterans. If anyone knows who the author of this poem is, please let me know so proper credit can be given.
I miss all three a lot as we always talked on the phone with each other while we were gone during the winter. I just wanted to post and share the poem here as it speaks for itself. The poem evidently was written for a "Sailor", but it doesn't matter what branch you served in, substitute the word "Soldier", "Marine", "Airman" and it still applies (the same for those who served in the Coast Guard).
A Veteran's Poem
He was getting old and paunchy,
And his hair was falling fast,
As 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,
And the 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 whereof he spoke.
But we hear his tales no longer,
For old Bob has passed away,
And the world’s a little poorer,
For a Sailor 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 Sailor died today.
When a politician leaves this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell the life story,
From the time that they were young,
But the passing of a Sailor,
Goes unreported, and unsung.
Is the greatest contribution,
To the welfare of our land.
Someone who breaks his promise,
And cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow,
Who in the 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 Sailor,
Who offers 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 freedoms,
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 Sailor,
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Sailor,
Who would fight until the end?
He was just a common Sailor,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us,
We may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Sailor’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 SAILOR DIED TODAY”.
Author Unknown
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