He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was greying fast, and he sat around the table, telling stories of the past. Of a time that he had served in and the deeds that he had done. In his exploits with his buddies; they were fe3arless, everyone. Sometimes to his neighbors, his tales became a joke, all his buddies listened, for they knew what of he spoke. But we'll hear his tales no longer, for ol' Larry has passed away, and the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today. He won't be mourned by many, just those who shared his strife. For he lived an ordinary and quiet sort of life. He held a job and raised a family, humbly going on his way; and the world won't note his passing; althogh a Soldier died today. 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 sometimes disproportionate, to the service that he gives. While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all, is paid off with a medal or nothing at all. It's so easy to forget them, for it is so long ago, that our Bob's and Foot's and Smitty's, went to serve, but we all 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 soon at hand, would you really want some cop-out, with his ever waffling stand? Or would you want 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 kind 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 the paper that might say: "OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, FOR A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."
Billy Cesarano