A MARINE DIED TODAY

And he sat inside a cockpit telling stories of the past. 
Of a war he had fought in and the deeds that he had done, 
Of his exploits with his buddies, they were heros, everyone. 

And thought sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke, 
All his buddies listened carefully, for they knew whereof he spoke. 
We will hear his tales no longer, for he has passed away, 
And the world is so much poorer, for a Marine has died today. 

No, he won't be mourned by many, 
Just some buddies, his children and his wife, 
For he lived an ordinary, very quiet sort of life. 

He held a job and raised a family, privately going on his way; 
And the world won't note his passing; though a Marine 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 life stories, from the time that they were young, 
But the passing of a Marine goes unnoticed, and unsung. 

Is the greatest contribution, to the welfare of our land, 
Some draft dodging jerk who breaks his promises and cons his fellow man? 
Or the ordinary fellows, who in times of war and strife, 
Will go off to serve his country and offer 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 Veteran, who offered up his all, 
Is paid with a medal and perhaps a pension, very, very small. 

It's so easy to forget them, for it was so long ago, 
That's our Gilberts, Dick's and Don's went to battle. 
But there's one thing that we know. 
It was not the politicians with their compromises and ploys, 
Who won for us the freedom that our country now enjoys. 

Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies close at hand, 
Would you really want to look to some cop-out, with his ever-waffling stand? 
Or, would you want a Marine who has sworn to defend, 
His home, his kin & country and would fight until the end? 

He was just a common veteran and his ranks are growing thin, 
But his presence should remind us that we might need his likes again. 
For when the country is in conflict that we find the military's part, 
Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start. 

If we can't do him honor while he is here to hear the praise, 
Then at least give him homage at the ending of his days. 
Perhaps just a simple headline in a newpaper that might say: 
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING? 
A UNITED STATES MARINE DIED TODAY" 

by A. Lawrence Vaincourt

Other Gilbert Howington Memortial Sites

Southside Of The Sky

My Son Grows

Togetherness

As I Remember His

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