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 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.
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."
“A Veteran Vs. A Politician”, shared with me last #RemembranceDay by a #veteran and longtime friend of my late Grandfather.
#lestweforget
#veteranvspolitician
6
Hanin Majadli
you’ll find 32 or so images I shot in Vancouver at the 
![Screenshot of a reddit post in r/ottawa - 5 yr. ago by 919Firefighter
… The amount of respect that has been instilled in Canadians for their great military and the ones that have given the ultimate sacrifice is beyond words.
While we do have a day to remember our fallen, where I live in North Carolina has nothing like it. Our Memorial Day has turned into businesses marketing sales for the their products and average citizens using it as a day off work to go to the beach or barbecue. The true meaning has been lost. But not in Canada. No. You all understand the sacrifice these men and women have made and choose to stand outside in the freezing cold for hours honoring their memory. Tears streamed down my face as I watched the pride in your eyes as different branches of your armed forces marched past, the claps for the veterans, some in wheelchairs and some barely able to stand as they put their age and pain aside and marched past in formation. It was fucking beautiful.
…
I will be wearing a poppy every year from now on. I told you it was life changing and I meant it. Your fallen will never be forgotten by this American, no matter what happens.
Thank you for being such hospitable hosts and showing me there still is hope and pride in the greats who have walked before us.
Merci, Ottawa
[edited for length]](https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/466/392/223/655/005/original/2152ad327b173b27.jpeg "Screenshot of a reddit post in r/ottawa - 5 yr. ago by 919Firefighter
… The amount of respect that has been instilled in Canadians for their great military and the ones that have given the ultimate sacrifice is beyond words.
While we do have a day to remember our fallen, where I live in North Carolina has nothing like it. Our Memorial Day has turned into businesses marketing sales for the their products and average citizens using it as a day off work to go to the beach or barbecue. The true meaning has been lost. But not in Canada. No. You all understand the sacrifice these men and women have made and choose to stand outside in the freezing cold for hours honoring their memory. Tears streamed down my face as I watched the pride in your eyes as different branches of your armed forces marched past, the claps for the veterans, some in wheelchairs and some barely able to stand as they put their age and pain aside and marched past in formation. It was fucking beautiful.
…
I will be wearing a poppy every year from now on. I told you it was life changing and I meant it. Your fallen will never be forgotten by this American, no matter what happens.
Thank you for being such hospitable hosts and showing me there still is hope and pride in the greats who have walked before us.
Merci, Ottawa
[edited for length]")
