The politician's stipend And the style in which he lives, Are often disproportionate, To the service that he gives.          ___________________ 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  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' Bob 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. Fo he lived, such  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 papers  note their passing, And proclaim that they were great. In print we read 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?

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 Bobs 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 orator 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, The Soldier's does his  part and 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." ______________________ from Annelies Fugler

ODE TO THE 82nd Our story began  in Texas                       In nineteen forty three                              Our Country was in peril                          Our job, to keep her free                          From Cities and towns across the land     To the Texas countryside                         You’re combat engineers they said          Now take this job with pride                                                                                    We climbed aboard a Liberty Ship           And sailed for the British Isles                  We did our drills and honed our skills      We were Soldiers with much style          Now, one more trip across the sea           To a place called Omaha                         Where bombs and shells,                        they fell like hell                                                   And we felt the shock and awe Our fight began in Normandy Near a city called St. Lo Clearing mines and building bridges Fo the Division - 29 "Lets Go' On to  liberate the city of Vire  and bridge the river Seine Begin the pursuit- came the call your objective. now..the enemy's west wall! We rolled and rolled across the land To the home of the wooden shoe Queen Wilhelmina We gave  it back to you We fought the enemy every day To the River Elbe and on Where Jerry said I’ve had enough Don’t shoot no more, we’re done Although the years have slipped away Our memories serve us well We can’t forget those days of old And stories yet to tell But now young man, this land is yours Your job, to keep her free And hold her in your outstretched arms From sea to shining sea Ed. Husted  2008