Condolences to the Schimetz family

From Lorraine Richard Nelson: Mesa, AZ

Condolences to the Schimetz family

From Shirley LaRocque Wendt (59): Tukwila, WA

APoem

He wasgetting oldand paunchy And his hair was falling fast,

and he sat around theVFW, Telling stories of the past.

Of a warthat heonce foughtin And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploitswith his buddies; Theywere heroes,everyone.

And ‘tho sometimes to his neighbors His tales became a joke,

Allhis buddies listened quietly For they knew where of he spoke.

But we’ll hear his tales no longer, For ol’Bob has passed away,
And the world’s a little poorer For aSoldier 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.

Whenpoliticiansleave this earth, Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing, Andproclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories From the time that they were young
But thepassing of a Soldier Goes unnoticed, andunsung.

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 theordinary Soldier, Who offered up his all,
Ispaid off with a medal And perhaps a pension, small..

It’s soeasy to forget them, For it is so many times That
our Bobs and Jims and Johnnys, Went to battle, but we know,

It isnot the politicians With their compromise and ploys,
Whowon for usthe 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 youwant a Soldier— His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier, Who would fight until the end.

He was just acommon Soldier, And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us We may need his like again.

For whencountries are in conflict, Wefind the Soldier’s part
Isto clean up all the troubles That the politiciansstart.

If wecannot do him honor While he’s hereto hear the praise,
Then at leastlet’s give him homage At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just asimple headline In the paperthat might say:
“OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, A SOLDIER DIED TODAY.”