Condemeded, He died for us,
Victorious, He returned to bring us the gift of life everlasting.
Comfort us now in our longing for the return of the Prisoner of War
and those Missing in Action.
Help Us Father;
Inspire us to remove the obstacles.
Give courage to those who know the truth to speak out.
Grant wisdom to the negotiators, and campassion to the jailers.
Inspire the media to spak out as loudly as they have in the past.
Protect those who seek in secret and help them to succeed.
Show us the tools to do Your will.
Guard and Bless those in captivity, their families,
and those who work for their release.
Let them come home soon
Thank you father
AMEN
They called for the best, for America's cream.
In the heat of battle, they forged the Corps.
That protects our homes, and guards our shores.
Though years have passed, and our country's grown
They are still the best. America's own.
With courage and strength in battles far and wide,
They fought with courage, and served with pride.
Now we send a Marine, to rest by their side
He lived and guarded, the American dream,
And gave his all, He is a Marine.
The rifle's echoes, are fading away
Taps has sounded, the end of his day,
The flag is folded, and passed to his wife,
We mourn his passing, and remember his life.
One of the few, One of America's best,
One of the proud, he stood up to the test.
He's never forgotten, he's never alone,
The Corps will always, care for its' own.
He stood so stron, on him we could lean,
And he gave his all. He is a Marine
Al Gamel 4-17-1998
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as brightly as his brass
"Step forward now, you soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?
The soldier squared his shoulders
And said, "No Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays
And at times my talk was tough
And sometimes I have been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough,
But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills just got too steep,
And I never passed a cry for help, Though at times I shook with fear
And sometimes, God orgive me
I've wept unmanly tears,
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here,
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears,
If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand.
There was a silence all around the throne
Were the Saints had often trod
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgement of his God.
"Step forward now, you Nam vet,
You've borne your burdens well,
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
Author Unknown
And his hair was falling fast;
He sat around the Legion
Telling stories of the past
He told of a war he had fought in
And the deeds that he had done;
In his exploits with his buddies....
There were heroes...everyone.
And tho' sometimes to his neighbors,
His tales became a joke.
All his buddies listened...
For they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For old' 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 a very ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.
He held a job and raised a family,
Quietly going on his way;
And the world won't not his passing
"Tho a soldier died today.
When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state;
While thousands note their passing
And proclaim they were great.
Papers tell of their life stories,
From the time they were young;
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed and unsung.
Is the greater contribution
To the welfare of our land
Some jerk who breaks his promise,
And cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow
Who in time of war and strife
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?
And the style in which he lives,
Are sometimes disproportionate
To the service that he gives.
While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offers 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 our bob's, and Jim's and Johnny's
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 your self 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
Who 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 would remind us
We may need his likes 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 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."
