Memorial Day - May 30, 2016

Note: Many thanks to A. Lawrence Vaincourt for his kind permission to use the poem, Just A Common Soldier, in my Memorial Day post.  As stated on his webpage, A. Lawrence Vaincourt - Rhymes & Reflections, and I quote, "Larry Vaincourt's classic poem was first published in his 1987 Remembrance Day newspaper column. There are several incorrect versions of this poem circulating the web; below you'll find the original text."

JUST A COMMON SOLDIER

(A Soldier Died Today)

by A. Lawrence Vaincourt

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 had 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 Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away,

And the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today.

He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,

For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life.

Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,

And the world won't note his passing, though 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 their whole 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

A guy who breaks his promises 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?

A 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 and perhaps, a pension small.

It's so easy to forget them for it was so long ago,

That the old Bills of our Country 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 yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand,

Would you want a politician with his ever-shifting stand?

Or would you prefer 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 like 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 a paper that would say,

Our Country is in mourning, for a soldier died today.

 © 1987 A. Lawrence Vaincourt

Mr. Vaincourt's poem notwithstanding, Memorial Day has become more than just remembering all of our soldiers that selflessly volunteer, have volunteered, or have died to protect our freedoms.  It is also about remembering those civilian first responders who volunteer to serve and protect.  They put themselves at risk, in harm's way, each and every day so that we all may live our lives in the knowledge that we have immediate help by simply dialing a number on your phone, or pressing an emergency response button.  Many of us might say it's their job, that they get paid to do it, and this would be very true.  But these comments come from those critics which don't go to work with the knowledge that coming home safe is a gamble.  The people that trivialize the daily accomplishments of these brave folks will be the first to call them when they are in need.  The selfishness of ungrateful naysayers is only surmounted by the selflessness, bravery, and humility of the first responders, these heroes, that often say of themselves, "Its' no big deal, it's our job, it's what we get paid to do."  God bless them all.

On Sept. 11, 2001, thousands of first responders heroically rushed to the scene and saved tens of thousands of lives. More than 400 of those first responders did not make it out alive. In rushing into those burning buildings, not one of them asked, 'What God do you pray to?' 'What beliefs do you hold?' 

-- Michael Bloomberg

Where our military fight the cowards of radicalized Islamic terrorism who hide behind masks and murder women and children to prove their worthlessness to humanity, firemen and police are stalked by their own cowardly foes that also prove their worthlessness to society by ambushing these brave men and women in their squad cars, or shooting at firefighters as they try to fight fires. Yet, many in our society seem ready to stand with these cowards who murder minority Asian and Hispanic police officers while chanting, "Black lives matter."  For some reason I find it easy to believe that, for these murdered officers, all lives mattered.  It is a concept first responders understand much better than most of us they selflessly rush to assist.

“Hating people is like burning down your own house to get rid of a rat.”

-- Harry Emerson Fosdick

Maybe 2016 should mark the year we stop listening to race baiting organizations and "reverends" that do nothing but incite the racism they seemingly decry, reverends that make a rich living from the mass of ignorance they feed from.  Maybe it's time for all of us to acknowledge there will always be bad amongst us; segments of evil that feed on ignorance and fear; "those who break their promises and con their fellow man."  Instead of listening to politicians, anarchists, and self-serving "clergy," all of whom put us all at risk with their dangerous rhetoric, why don't we stand together and work toward a sustainable solution.  Let's pledge to stop constantly taking two steps back for every three we freely take forward.  

Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

-- 1 John 2:9-11

Maybe it's time we stopped blaming everything wrong with our society on a flag that ignorance has attached meaning to, and start wearing tee shirts that memorialize parenting, respect, and obeying the rules of law we have in this country.  Maybe we should take this one day to remind our young people, when a police officer tells you to do something, there is a reason for it.  Let's start with, "Stop Means Stop!" and then follow up with lessons of "yes sir" and "no sir."  Everybody wants respect but no one seems willing to earn it, especially our young, although, looking at the parents would evidence much of the problem.  Instead of looking South for a scapegoat, maybe everyone should look to home and take ownership of their own issues.

Our first responders have a tough enough job to do, and they want to do it.  How about we try to work with them in 2016, instead of being a roadblock to progress.  For many of us this would mean, instead of saying, "Thank you," you might want to shake their hand and say, "I'm sorry."  I think you'll find people in uniform more than willing to have meaningful, constructive, conversations in order to save all lives.  This Memorial Day let us all agree that, how we treat those who offer up their lives for us, really does matter as much as what we say.  If you can't say anything nice, shut the hell up.

"No higher expression of love could be given. Life is the most valuable object we possess; and when a man is willing to lay that down for his friends or his country, it shows the utmost extent of love. Even this love for friends has been rarely witnessed."

-- Barnes' Notes on John 15:13

Once again, I offer my prayer for all that have served, are serving, and will serve our great nation in the hope for a better world.  Let us all pray for peace, love, and tolerance for the coming year and all years to come:

This is the way I intended to end this post.  I wanted to make my prayer an annual tradition, but, as occurs with life, this path was to take a turn.  I offer, instead, this tidbit sent to me by a friend:

Daddy's Poem 

Her hair was in a pony tail,

Her dress tied with a bow.

Today was “Daddy's Day” at school,

She couldn't wait to go.

But her mommy tried to tell her,

That she probably should stay home;

The kids just might not understand,

If she went to school alone.

  

But she was not afraid;

She knew just what to say,

What to tell her classmates

Why he wasn't there today.

  

But still her mother worried,

For her to face this day alone.

And that was why, once again,

She tried to keep her daughter home.

  

But the little girl went to school,

Eager to tell them all

About a dad she never sees, a dad

Who never calls.

  

There were daddies along the wall

for everyone to meet,

Children squirming impatiently,

Anxious in their seat.

One by one the teacher called

A student from the class.

To introduce their daddy,

As seconds slowly passed.

At last the teacher called her name,

As each child turned to stare.

Each of them was searching,

For a man who wasn't there.

"Where's her daddy at?"

She heard a boy call out.

"She probably doesn't have one,"

Another dared to shout.

And from somewhere near the back,

She heard a daddy say,

"Looks like another deadbeat dad,

Too busy to waste his day."

The words did not offend her,

As she smiled up at her Mom.

And looked back at her teacher, who

Told her to go on.

  

And with hands behind her back,

Slowly she began to speak.

And out from the mouth of a child,

Came words incredibly unique.

  

"My Daddy couldn't be here,

Because he lives so far away.

But I know he wishes he could be,

Since this is such a special day.

  

And though you cannot meet him,

I wanted you to know

All about my daddy,

And how much he loves me so.

  

He loved to tell me stories,

He taught me to ride my bike;

He surprised me with pink roses,

And taught me to fly a kite.

  

We used to share fudge sundaes,

And ice cream in a cone.

And though you cannot see him.

I'm not standing here alone.

  

'Cause my daddy's always with me,

Even though we are apart;

I know because he told me,

He'll forever be in my heart"

  

With that, her little hand reached up,

And lay across her chest,

Feeling her own heartbeat

Beneath her favorite dress. 

And from somewhere there in the crowd of dads, 

Her mother stood in tears.

Proudly watching her little girl,

Wise beyond her years.

  

For she stood up for the love

Of a man not in her life.

Doing what was best for her,

Doing what was a right.

And when she dropped her hand back

Down, staring straight into the crowd.

She finished with a voice so soft,

But its message clear and loud. 

  

"I love my daddy very much,

He is my shining star.

And if he could, he'd be here,

But heaven's just too far. 

  

You see he is a soldier

And he died just this past year,

When a roadside bomb hit his convoy

And taught the warriors fear. 

 But sometimes when I close my eyes,

It's like he never went away."

And then she closed her eyes,

And saw him clearly there that day.

  

And to her mother's amazement,

She witnessed with surprise,

A room full of daddies and children,

All starting to close their eyes.

Who knows what they saw before them;

Who knows what they felt inside,

Perhaps, for a mere second,

They saw him at her side.

  

"I know you're with me Daddy,"

To the silence she called out

And what happened next made believers,

Of those once filled with doubt.

  

Not one in that room could explain it,

For each of their eyes had been closed,

But there on the desk beside her

Was a fragrant, long-stemmed, pink rose

  

And a child was blessed, if only for

A moment, by the love of her shining star,

And given the gift of believing,

That heaven is never too far.

Amen!

Editor's Note 

(re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card) 

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so.  This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot.  Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider another viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we do afterward, and what we learn from the experience.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, and instructor. He is founder of the Congregation for Religious Tolerance and author/editor of the Congregation's official blog site, "The Path," which offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination.