Lest We Forget

[stony]

Just took a look round the site and found this - which had me in tears 'cos it reminded me of my dad:

JUST A COMMON SOLDIER
(A Soldier Died Today)
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.

© 1987 A. Lawrence Vaincourt

I'd never heard that before, thank you BlueSpice

 

[snip]

Great post.
Very moving and very true

 

[CITY FOR LIFE]

One of the best post of recent weeks, I have just placed an order for 5 for the kids and mum and dad, once the guys and girls back at camp see these there will be a large order going in I am sure, Top post.

 

[BlueMoon93]

Cheers Blue Spice. I've ordered one for myself and if my parents want one as well then I'll order them one. It hurts and angers me when I see people who don't wear a poppy on rememberance day, especially adults who should know better tbf.

 

[christened at st marks]

My old man was a Marine Commando during WW2,he never talked about it till towards the end of his life,he never bragged to his mates,he was a Marine ,he got hit by shrapnell in France as he turned to his mate his mates head was missing,he came back to England got his leg fixed up and went back working behind enemy lines taking prisoners, he never made any more mates,he had many more tales before he died,he never bothered with his medals,he was a mad City fan all his life, he was 18 when he joined up FFS( think about it)

 

[BlueSpice]

I'm glad to see others like these wrist bands too - hopefully a good sum is being raised for a very good cause.

Thanks for the heartwarming responses to the post - I was half afraid of being blasted for a sentimental old fool.

 

[BlakeTheBlue]

Great post Bluespice.

It's because of the mind boggling sacrifice that our brave men and women in the armed forces give that we can enjoy the Great British lifestyle that we are accustomed to. The reason we get to go to Eastlands and watch our beloved blues. We can never thank them enough. The title of the OP is spot on mate "Lest we forget".

I'm more of a traditional poppy kind of guy. But these wrist bands are a fantastic idea. Every parent should have their kids wear one.

 

[Ally.P]

I'm sure most people here are well aware it's coming up to that time of year again when we remember and be thankful for, all those brave service men and women who give/have given their lives for others, but I thought some of our younger posters might quite like these as an alternative/addition to traditional poppies: <a class="postlink" href="http://www.rblr.co.uk/content/support.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.rblr.co.uk/content/support.html</a> and they have the added benefit of being able to pay by Paypal :)

OOOH LOVE EM , GONNA GET ONE!!!

 

[poyntonblue]

Done.

 

[Evil Roy Slade]

all the sacrifice - lest we forget