Oldest Military Blogger Remembrance Day 11/11/11

Five years ago, I opened my Blog without the slightest idea where it would take me. I posted something "provocative", at the behest of my daughter Elaine, in hopes of my receiving a response, for my getting encouragement.

In my mind's eye, I had feelings about flying Our Flag at half mast every day of the week, as long as our Service men and women were at War or engaged, in an action that put our Forces at risk.

I Posted same and was pleased, that it introduced my Military experience, as a basis for the equation of publishing what I intended originally.

Today is Remembrance Day in America.

The United States of America recognizes today, November 11, 2011 as, The Day of Recognition, of the Servicemen and Women of our Armed Forces, who Died while Serving America.

The entire Country will be Flying Old Glory At Half Mast, and every U.S.Diplomatic Outpost in the World, will follow suit..... Today.

Yet my thoughts are also about Tomorrow.

Remembrance Day has Come and Gone.

When will we remember those that fall on Saturday, November 12, 2011, and the Days After Remembrance Day?

Which brings me to today's Posting of an anonymous piece, sent to me by a Great Canadian Friend, who really "knows how to push my buttons".

A Soldier Died Today.

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's so easy to forget them,  

For it is so many times  

That our Joes and Jims and Johnnys,  

Went to battle, but we know,    

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 like 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. 

Why should we not fly our flag at half mast every day when our Servicemen are in jeopardy anywhere in the world?

We have Servicemen,in every major country ln every Continent in the World.

Let's Remember Them, NOW.....

AND.....

Let's Bring Them All Home, Safely.