rhtunstall<p>He was getting old and paunchy<br>And his hair was falling fast, and he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past.</p><p> Of a war that he once fought in and the deeds that he had done, in his exploits with his buddies;<br>they were heroes, every one.</p><p> And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors his tales became a joke, all his buddies listened quietly for they knew where of he spoke.</p><p> But we'll hear his tales no longer, for ol' Joe has passed away, and the world's a little poorer for a Veteran died today.</p><p> He won't be mourned by many, just his children and his wife. For he lived an ordinary, very quiet sort of life.</p><p> He held a job and raised a family, going quietly on his way; and the world won't note his passing, 'tho a Veteran died today.</p><p> When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state, while thousands note their passing, and proclaim that they were great.</p><p> Papers tell of their life stories-from the time that they were young, but the passing of a Veteran goes unnoticed, and unsung.</p><p> Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land, some jerk who breaks his promise and cons his fellow man?</p><p> Or the ordinary fellow who in times of war and strife, goes off to serve his country and offers up his life?</p><p> The politician's stipend and the style in which he lives, are often disproportionate, to the service that he gives.</p><p> While the ordinary Veteran, who offered up his all, is paid off with a medal and perhaps a pension, small.</p><p> It is not the politicians with their compromise and ploys, who won for us the freedom that our country now enjoys.</p><p> Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand, would you really want some cop-out, with his ever-waffling stand?</p><p> Or would you want a Veteran, his home, his country, his kin, just a common Veteran,<br>who would fight until the end.</p><p> He was just a common Veteran, and his ranks are growing thin, but his presence should remind us we may need his likes again.</p><p> For when countries are in conflict, we find the Veteran's part, is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.</p><p> 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.</p><p> Perhaps just a simple headline in the paper that might say:</p><p>“OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, A VETERAN DIED TODAY."</p><p>“A Veteran Vs. A Politician”, shared with me last <a href="https://zeroes.ca/tags/RemembranceDay" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>RemembranceDay</span></a> by a <a href="https://zeroes.ca/tags/veteran" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>veteran</span></a> and longtime friend of my late Grandfather.</p><p><a href="https://zeroes.ca/tags/lestweforget" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>lestweforget</span></a><br><a href="https://zeroes.ca/tags/veteranvspolitician" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>veteranvspolitician</span></a></p>