A Poem Worth Reading

A Poem Worth Reading

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' Bob has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.

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 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 of their 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,
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 Soldier,
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 Soldier--
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who 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,
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 simply headline
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."

Pass On The Patriotism!
YOU can make a difference

The Final Muster

I write this post with a feeling of great sadness. A truly great and storied generation has passed into history. With the passing of John Babcock, Canada's last First World War I veteran, the living memory of Canada's bloodiest and most heroic period is gone. I cannot help but think that something has been taken from me, something that I cannot hope to recover. Like a physical piece stolen from my heart and mind, and from my soul. Never again will I have a chance to hear their stories from their own lips, never again will I hear their tales of youthful valour, or see the distant pain of remembered horror. Never again will I see the slight smiles that cross their faces when remembered comrades visit from their clouded memories.


My wife and I attended Vimy day ceremonies here in St. Catharine's. It was a cold day and we were clearly not dressed for the weather. The police had blocked off Church and James Streets in anticipation of a crowed that would never arrive. There were local dignitaries and politicians, a Piper and a Bugler and a few members of the public that happened by. It saddens me to see that sacrifices of Grandfathers and Grandmothers, Great Uncles and Aunts, no longer matter to the current generation. Growing up in this country as an immigrant, I read stories of these men and women and their acts of valour and bravery. These people were heroes to me, people to be revered, even if they themselves did not think so. They heeded the call to arms for King and Empire. For the first time the New World coming to the rescue of the old.

Where ever soldiers go when they pass away, each man in his turn, smartly dressed took his place in rank and file. The Canadian Corps is complete, all four divisions present to the last man. All the companies can now be formed, the final Muster can now take place, and the final roll can now be called. Canada's greatest army is now once again complete.

Related articles

• The Final Muster (thetrenchline.blogspot.com)
• Vancouver remembers huge sacrifice of Vimy Ridge on 94th anniversary (theprovince.com)
• for those of you that don't know... - Lille, France (travelpod.com)
• Career warrior who hated war dies at 110 in Australia (theglobeandmail.com)
• Career warrior who hated war dies at 110 in Australia - Globe and Mail (news.google.com)

Child Soldier

The assertion that Omar Khader, didn't know what he was doing when he threw the grenade that killed a US medic is totally ridiculous. This young man grew up in an area ruled by the Taliban, and was part of a family that supported its rule. He has been captured on video footage manufacturing bombs and being a full participant in that process. Every armed force in the world has employed young soldiers, some of them receiving the highest awards for bravery. Those young soldiers participated in battles and killed enemy soldiers. They knew full well what they were doing when they volunteered for active duty in the military in time of war.

What he did is no different than what any soldier would do, when faced with imminent death from an enemy. He killed them. He is an enemy combatant and should be treated as such, until this conflict is over. When the worlds armies are no longer at war then he should be released and repatriated to Canada if he chooses.

Let us not forget that during the Second World War there were many people of German heritage that returned to Germany to fight in the Nazi cause, only to return to Canada after the war.

Omar Khader, did kill in the name of his belief and faith, but it is not murder. Should he be held in captivity for the duration of the conflict? I say yes, he is a captured enemy, a POW, and should be treated accordingly.