Subdeacon Joe Posted December 16, 2020 Share Posted December 16, 2020 Passing along a Facebook find: Alan D. Briley nt1fSpmo3nesorehd · Good story. A WW2 Vet Joe Shkwareh a Ukrainian who served in the army 1939 -1945. He always said he joined the army to get a pair of boots.He served in Italy and Holland. How he got a copy of this poem is not known. It was written by a journalist in Quebec, Lawerence Vaincourt. Few had ever read the poem. When Joe made his funeral arrangements he requested that the poem be read at his funeral service. No one but Joe and the funeral director knew about the poem. This is when the poem became well known. It is said that after the funeral the family’s phones rang continually asking about the poem. Joe joined the RCAF in 1949 and retired in 1974 He passed away 2007. The title of the poem, “A Soldier died today” Where Did The Country Go Wrong 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 of where hespoke. 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. 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." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailrider #896 Posted December 16, 2020 Share Posted December 16, 2020 Amen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted December 16, 2020 Share Posted December 16, 2020 That’s a great poem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 Posted December 16, 2020 Share Posted December 16, 2020 Like Joe, there were from 40 to 50,000 Ukrainians in the Canadian Army. Ukrainians who visit the American cemeteries in Europe are proud to point out Ukrainian names. I once read a list of Ukrainian names. The only one I can remember though is SGT Michael Strank, one of the Iwo Jima flag raisers. Now they are all either Canadians or Americans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smoky Pistols Posted December 16, 2020 Share Posted December 16, 2020 So many fail to realize the sacrifice made by veterans on a daily basis--Bless Them, One and All! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted December 17, 2020 Share Posted December 17, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dantankerous Posted December 17, 2020 Share Posted December 17, 2020 Wow. Outstanding. Touching. Real. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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