"MY FRIEND DALE, A SOLDIER, DIED TODAY" - Memorial Day

Picture source
Shared by Dean Murphy:

He still stood tall and proud
And his uniform fit him well,
And he hung around with the Honor Guard,
relating stories he liked to tell.

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 strangers
His tales seem like a joke,
All his military buddies listened
For they knew of what he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For old Dale has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a real soldier died today.

He will be mourned by many friends,
his children and his wife.
For he lived an extraordinary
And quite eventful life.

He did a job and raised a family,
Quietly going on his way;
And the world may not note his passing,
but 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 politicians life stories
From the time that they were young,
But the passing of a soldier often
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 extraordinary fellow who,
In times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country
And offers up his life?

A politician's salary
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 a pension often small.

It's so easy to forget them,
For it was so long ago,
That the old Dales of our country
Went to battle, oh how, we know.

It was not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our Country still 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 a uncommon Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his memory should remind us
We may need his likes 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 give him due honor
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him respect
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline
in a paper that would say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
FOR MY FRIEND DALE, A SOLDIER, DIED TODAY