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sam09
08-Nov-11, 20:53
He was getting old and paunchy,
and his hair was falling fast,
and he sat around the legion,
telling stories of his 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 some-times to his neighbours,
his tales became a joke,
all his buddies listened quietly,
for they knew what of he spoke.

We`ll hear his tales no longer,
for old John`s passed away,
and the worlds a little poorer,
for a soldier died today.

He won`t be mourned by many,
just his children and his wife,
for he lived a very ordinary,
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,
from some-one who breaks there 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 politicians stipend
and the style in which each lives,
are often disproportionate,
to the service that each 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 a cop- out,
with his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a soldier,
who would fight until the end,
his home, his country his kith and kin,
would fight to defend?

He was just a common soldier,
and their 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 soldiers part,
is to clean up all the troubles,
that the politicians start.

If we can not do him honour,
while he`s here to hear the praise,
then at least let`s give him homage,
at the ending of his days.

bekisman
08-Nov-11, 22:04
That from here?:
http://leonardpaulrundvall.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html

Kenn
09-Nov-11, 00:50
Thank you for sharing very apt at this time.

sam09
09-Nov-11, 17:13
That from here?:
http://leonardpaulrundvall.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html That`s the one bekisman. Thought it was needed with all the negativity about the poppies on here.

Buy a poppy,
wear a poppy,
don`t buy a poppy,
don`t wear a poppy,
just respect the others choice.
Please remember,
they died to give you the choice.

oldmarine
09-Nov-11, 18:55
This old WW2 US Marine thanks everyone who extend their appreciation to the warriors who served in that great war.

David from Stockport
10-Nov-11, 00:13
As I read on Facebook this week - if you are offended by the Poppy please let me know , then I can delete you from my "friends" list .

Support our boys 365 days a year - they dont choose to go to war ,that decision is always made by Polititions who are
to old to fight and die themselves .

John Little
10-Nov-11, 09:45
Tommy

By Rudyard Kipling

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!

John Little
10-Nov-11, 09:48
Kipling's poem is famous but I put it above because I found an extra few verses that someone has written as an updated version. It expresses very well why I think we should not be sending our guys to die in wars which are nothing to do with us.



O then we're just like 'eroes from the army's glorious past.
Yes, it's "God go with you, Tommy," when the trip might be your last.
They pays us skivvy wages, never mind we're sitting ducks,
When clerks what's pushing pens at 'ome don't know their flippin' luck.
"Ah, yes" sez they "but think of all the travel to be 'ad."
Pull the other one. Does Cooks do 'olidays in Baghdad?
It's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, know your place,"
But it's "Tommy, take the front seat," when there's terrorists to chase

. An' the town is full of maniacs who'd like you dead toot sweet.
Yes, it's "Thank you, Mr Atkins," when they find you in the street.
There's s'pposed to be a covenant to treat us fair an' square
But I 'ad to buy me army boots, an' me combats is threadbare.
An' 'alf the bloody 'elicopters can't get in the air,
An' me pistol jammed when snipers fired. That's why I'm laid up 'ere.
Yes, it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, "We 'ave to watch the pence";
Bold as brass the P.M. sez, "We spare them no expense.

But I'll tell you when they do us proud an' pull out all the stops,
It's when Tommy lands at Lyneham in a bloomin' wooden box!.



http://www.kipling.org.uk/rg_tommy1.htm






It's also a famous song - and I have it on this computer. If I knew how I'd put it on here.