Patriotism

(defined as 'Love for or Devotion to one's Country’)

Loyalty to country, ALWAYS.

Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.

(Mark Twain)

A love for tradition has never weakened a nation.

Indeed, it has strengthened nations in their hour of peril.

(Winston Churchill)

They wrote in the old days that it is

sweet and fitting to die for one's country.

But in modern war,

there is 'nothing sweet nor fitting' in your dying.

You will die like a dog for no good reason.

(Ernest Hemingway)

The following poem submitted by Sydney:

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 neighbours, 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 this 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 honour 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...A VETERAN DIED TODAY!”

George S. Patton Jr. wrote,

“It is a proud privilege to be a soldier ~

a good soldier with discipline, self-respect, pride in his unit and his country,

a high sense of duty and obligation to his comrades and superiors  ~

and a self-confidence born of demonstrated ability.”

Merle Baird-Kerr...written September 10, 2014

To comment...e-mail to:

inezkate@gmail.com  or  mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca