JUST A COMMON SOLDIER
G'day folks,
Today I feature a poem that was read out at my stepfather's funeral recently. The funeral, and especially the burial, was magnificently attended by my stepfather's local RSL - Returned Services League.
This poem was written by Larry Vaincourt. Larry Vaincourt's writing has been published
across Canada, the United States and around the world. Born in upstate New York, Larry grew up as a farm boy in the rural
setting of Covey Hill, Quebec, where he lived until he joined the Royal
Canadian Air Force in World War II as a Leading Aircraftsman. After serving as
an aircraft mechanic and part-time entertainer, he returned to Quebec in 1946.
A varied career saw him working as a logger, news photographer (ABC News
Pictures), civil servant and metallurgical photographer (Rolls Royce).
Larry embarked upon his writing career first as a regular columnist for THE
LACHUTE WATCHMAN. Larry's prose and poetry were carried for over 20 years
as a regular feature in the journals DIALOGUE and MAIN STREET, as
well as on the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) radio program FRESH
AIR. Larry received the 2004 Column of the Year Award from the Quebec
Newspaper Association. Sadly, Larry passed away on April 20th, 2009, surrounded
by his family.
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.
Clancy's comment: Well said, Larry. And thank you to the Cobram RSL for a magnificent, proud and respectful burial service for my stepfather, George.
Vale, Larry Vaincourt. Vale, George.
Vale, Larry Vaincourt. Vale, George.
I'm ...
Congratulations to Richard Flanagan,
an Aussie, for winning
the Man Booker Prize.
Richard, you deserve one
of my famous t-shirts ...
LEST WE FORGET
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