Homage to an ordinary hero

Where Did The Country Go Wrong

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 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 buddies listened quietly 
For they knew where of he spoke. 
  
But we'll hear his tales no longer, 
For ol' Joe has passed away, 
And the world's a little poorer 
For a Veteran diedtoday . 
  
He won't be mourned by many, 
Just his children and his wife. 
For he lived 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 Veteran 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 of their life stories 
From the time that they were young, 
But the passing of a Veteran 
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? 
  
The politician's stipend 
And the style in which he lives, 
Are often disproportionate, 
To the service that he gives. 
  
While the ordinary Veteran, 
Who offered up his all, 
Is paid off with a medal 
And perhaps a pension, small. 
  
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 cop-out, 
With his ever-waffling stand? 
  
Or would you want a Veteran 
His home, his country, his kin, 
Just a common Veteran, 
Who would fight until the end. 
  
He was just a common Veteran, 
And his ranks are growing thin, 
But his presence should remind us 
We may need his likes again. 
  
For when countries are in conflict, 
We find the Veteran'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 the paper that might say: 
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, 
A VETERAN DIEDTODAY ."