Bill Sykes
looks back in retrospect at material which has been published
in previous editions of "View from America",
in an attempt to determine whether the subject matter
written then is still applicable in today’s world.
Article 6A
Preamble:
This poignant poem, which I’m informed was written by a Mr. A Larry
Vaincourt and published in the "Woodstock" paper in November of 2001
I consider to be very apt and should be re-published as a tribute to all people
who have served their country in times of need. Note: Although this poem was written about soldiers of yesteryear it will still
eventually apply to current day soldiers in the years to come and therefore it
is dedicated to all soldiers who have fought for there country, whom-so-ever
they may be.
JUST A COMMON SOLDIER
(A soldier died today)
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 he 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 neighbours, 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 quiet 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 this day.
When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie
in state,
While thousands note their passing and proclaim that
they were great.
Papers give their whole life stories, from the times
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 their 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 life
again.
For when Countries are in conflict, then we find the
soldier’s part
Is to clean up all the troubles that politicians start.
If we cannot do him honor while he’s here to hear
the praise,
Then at least let’s give 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.
I have tried to faithfully reproduce the above poem verbatim in
its entirety, even though it’s written in the masculine
gender, for which I must apologise profusely to the ladies
who also should be recognised for the many sacrifices
that they have made.
I also have a distinct feeling that the writer disliked
politicians, for which I have no apology to make.
To view the complete Mid-November 2003 Edition please
click HERE.
Shown below is a short (11 mins & 29 secs) film that
seems very appropriate given the subject matter of the
contents of this retrospective newsletter. Please enjoy
and perhaps visit the site of the makers
http://www.brothers-ink.com/reveille.htm
This is the first film Written,
Directed and Produced by BROTHERS' INK PRODUCTIONS!
According to Donovan Montierth, Brother's Ink plans to
make a full length movie from this short.
We
welcome feedback about any of the contents of these articles.
Please send all correspondence to bill_sykes@huddersfield1.co.uk
