A friend forwarded a poem to me that really touched my soul. I wanted to share it, but didn't want to infringe on a copyright, so I went in search of the poet to ask permission to reprint. I found out that Larry Vaincourt had passed away on August 20, 2009. I wrote to his son, Randy, asking permission--and he granted it. He even sent me the proper version of the poem to be sure I got it right. :)
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.
Please check out the website dedicated to Larry...read about him and read some of his columns and poems...you can even buy a book! Thank you, Randy, for sharing your father with us. He truly embodies the spirit of Memorial Day.
