Mr & Mrs Bellringer:

Thank you for your service to our country, the world.  You give us guidance, wisdom, hope and information daily.  Yours is also a thankless task.

I'm proud to be the third generation of our family to have served our country's call.  Both of my Grandfathers served one in World War I the other in World War II.  My father during Korea, and his brothers served, as well.  My little brother was a Marine and I retired after 21 years in the Air Force, not many female military retirees around.   Those who are closest to me are retired military, all branches, seems we have a common bond --> GOD   Country   Family. 

Thank you to all Veterans.  I salute you.  Have you thank a Veteran today?

Respectfully,

W

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JUST A COMMON SOLDIER  by A. Lawrence Vaincourt

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, every one.

And tho' sometimes, to his neighbors,

his tales became a joke,

All his Legion buddies listened,

for they knew whereof he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer

for old Bill has passed away,

And the world's a little poorer,

for a soldier died today.

He will not be mourned by many,

just his children and his wife,

For he lived an ordinary and

quite uneventful life.

Held a job and raised a family,

quietly going his own way,

And the world won't note his passing,

though 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 their whole 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

A guy who breaks his promises

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?

A politician's stipend and

the style in which he lives

Are sometimes 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 was so long ago

That the old Bills of our Country

went to battle, but we know

It was 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 want a politician

with his ever-shifting stand?

Or would you prefer a soldier,

who has sworn to defend

His home, his kin and Country

and 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,

then 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 a paper that would say,

Our Country is in mourning,

for a soldier died today.

c. 1985 A. Lawrence Vaincourt