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Where Did The Country Go Wrong

He was getting old and paunchy
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' Joe has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a Veteran 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 Veteran 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 Veteran
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 Veteran,
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.
  

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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 Veteran
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Veteran,
Who would fight until the end.

He was just a common Veteran,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his likes again.

For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Veteran'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,
A VETERAN DIED TODAY."

I certainly have nothing against "telling it like it is," nor did 2 time Medal of Honor recipient Marine Corps Major General Smedley Butler.  See his classic War is a Racket.

Some more recent work from another experienced Marine Corps Officer: http://www.g2mil.com/.

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2019/11/laurence-m-vance/thank-you-for-what-service/

Thank You for What Service?
By Laurence M. Vance
November 11, 2019

Veterans Day should be renamed.

It happened once before. Veterans Day was originally termed Armistice Day. It commemorated the signing of the armistice on November 11 that ended fighting on the Western Front in World War I. But because the “war to end all wars” didn’t, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day after World War II. President Eisenhower signed the legislation making the change on June 1, 1954.

Since the first U.S. invasion of Iraq in 1991, and especially since the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq after 9/11, Veterans Day has taken on a new meaning: Military Appreciation Day. Although there are other national holidays (Memorial Day and the Fourth of July) that have degenerated into Military Appreciation Days, Veterans Day is the ultimate day to celebrate all things military.

On Veterans Day, veterans and active duty military personnel can take advantage of special discounts at many places of business and free meals at restaurants. Many cities have parades in honor of the military. Both public and private schools have programs featuring local veterans and military personnel.

Churches have “patriotic” services on the Sunday before Veterans Day where veterans and active duty military are encouraged to wear their uniforms to church, military anthems are played, the names of veterans are listed in the church bulletin, veterans are recognized and applauded during the Sunday morning church service, the church sign has the Scripture on it replaced with something about the military, and more prayers than usual are offered for “the troops.” Some churches show a video tribute to the troops, have a military color guard march down the main aisle to open the service, or have a military chaplain as the guest preacher.

But above all, everyone in the country is bombarded with exhortations to find a veteran and say: “Thank you for your service.”

Service in the military is called being in the service. But what “service” are we supposed to thank a veteran for? How did a veteran serve me or any other American by being in the military?

I can see the point of thanking a waiter or waitress for their service because they actually served me, but the same is not true of a veteran of the U.S. military. Those in the military do many things, but serving me or any other American is not one of them.

How were Americans served when veterans fought unjust and unnecessary wars?

How were Americans served when veterans went to countries they had no business going?

How were Americans served when veterans obeyed immoral orders?

How were Americans served when veterans fought wars that were not constitutionally declared?

How were Americans served when veterans maimed and killed foreigners who had never threatened any American?

How were Americans served when veterans fought senseless and immoral wars?

How were Americans served when veterans bombed foreign countries?

How were Americans served when veterans unleashed sectarian violence?

How were Americans served when veterans destroyed foreign industry, infrastructure, and culture?

How were Americans served when veterans bombed, invaded, and occupied countries that posed no threat to the United States?

How were Americans served when veterans carried out a flawed, reckless, and belligerent U.S. foreign policy?

How were Americans served when veterans killed civilians in error (or on purpose) and dismissed it as collateral damage?

How were Americans served when veterans made widows and orphans?

How were Americans served when veterans carried out inaccurate drone strikes?

How were Americans served when veterans fought wars of offense not defense?

How were Americans served when veterans took sides in cινιℓ ωαrs?

How were Americans served when veterans acted as the world’s policemen?

How were Americans served when veterans acted as a global force for evil?

How were Americans served when veterans acted as the president’s personal attack force?

How were Americans served when veterans traveled the world, met interesting people, and then killed them?

The answer is: I wasn’t, and neither was any other American.

However, there are people and organizations that veterans have served.

Presidents have reason to say to veterans, “Thank you for your service.”

Secretaries of Defense have reason to say to veterans, “Thank you for your service.”

Army generals have reason to say to veterans, “Thank you for your service.”

The Joint Chiefs of Staff have reason to say to veterans, “Thank you for your service.”

Navy captains have reason to say to veterans, “Thank you for your service.”

Air Force commanders have reason to say to veterans, “Thank you for your service.”

The military-industrial complex has reason to say to veterans, “Thank you for your service.”

Defense contractors have reason to say to veterans, “Thank you for your service.”

Most Americans don’t belong to any of the above groups. Why, then, should they thank veterans for their service?

A very nice poem. Thank you for posting it.

I don't understand why your post got three thumbs down. Maybe it's because of the unjust wars and military engagements that the U.S. has been involved in (and there are plenty of those),