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The song and pics are a great tribute to WW II Veterans
http://www.managedmusic.com/beforeyougo.html
http://www.managedmusic.com/beforeyougo.html
Before You Go - A Tribute To Veterans
- Thread starter Jack Neilson
- Start date
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The soldier stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now, you soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills got just too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand.
There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you soldier,
You've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
~Author Unknown~
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now, you soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills got just too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand.
There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you soldier,
You've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
~Author Unknown~
- Reaction score
- 1
- Points
- 430
Ahhhh. Thanks
well this one can't be confused
JUST A COMMON SOLDIER
He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling
fast
And he sat around the Legion telling stories of his past.
Of a war he had fought in, and the deeds that he had
done
In his exploits with his buddies, they were heros,
everyone.
And tho' sometimes to his neighbors his tales became a
joke,
All his legion buddies listened,
for they knew whereof he spoke,
But we hear his tales no longer,
for old Tom has passed away
And the world won't note his
passing, tho' a soldier died
today.
He will not be mourned by
many, just his childern and his
wife.
For he lived a very quiet and
uneventful life.
Held a job and raised a
family, and went his own
sweet way.
Yet the world's a little poorer, for a soldier
died today.
When the politicians leave this earth, their
bodies lie in state.
Thousands note their passing, and proclaim that they were
great.
Papers tell you their 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 man 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 lfe.
A politician's stipend and the style in which he lives,
Are often 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 long ago,
That the Tom's of our country went to battle. But we
know,
It was not the politicians, with their compromise and
ploys,
Who won 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, his country, and
would fight until the end.
He was just a common soldier and his
ranks are getting thin,
But his presence should remind us, we
may need his like again.
When contries 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 honour while he's here to hear the
praise
Then at least let's give him homage, at the endinng of his
days.
Perhaps just a simple headline, in a paper that would say,
OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, FOR A SOLDIER
DIED TODAY
Author Unknown
well this one can't be confused
JUST A COMMON SOLDIER
He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling
fast
And he sat around the Legion telling stories of his past.
Of a war he had fought in, and the deeds that he had
done
In his exploits with his buddies, they were heros,
everyone.
And tho' sometimes to his neighbors his tales became a
joke,
All his legion buddies listened,
for they knew whereof he spoke,
But we hear his tales no longer,
for old Tom has passed away
And the world won't note his
passing, tho' a soldier died
today.
He will not be mourned by
many, just his childern and his
wife.
For he lived a very quiet and
uneventful life.
Held a job and raised a
family, and went his own
sweet way.
Yet the world's a little poorer, for a soldier
died today.
When the politicians leave this earth, their
bodies lie in state.
Thousands note their passing, and proclaim that they were
great.
Papers tell you their 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 man 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 lfe.
A politician's stipend and the style in which he lives,
Are often 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 long ago,
That the Tom's of our country went to battle. But we
know,
It was not the politicians, with their compromise and
ploys,
Who won 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, his country, and
would fight until the end.
He was just a common soldier and his
ranks are getting thin,
But his presence should remind us, we
may need his like again.
When contries 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 honour while he's here to hear the
praise
Then at least let's give him homage, at the endinng of his
days.
Perhaps just a simple headline, in a paper that would say,
OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, FOR A SOLDIER
DIED TODAY
Author Unknown
- Reaction score
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I wrote this while I was overseas in Kabul. Everyday I passed & saluted that monument, it kinda got to me. These men are no longer here because they went, without question where they were told to go. One day in April, after I finished my sentry shift in an O.P, I couldn't sleep and I sat down and took out my FMP and just started to write with that monument and those men in my mind, so, here's to Sgt. Short, Cpl. Beerenfenger, Cpl. Murphy and every other soldier who has laid down their life in service to Canada;
Take that rucksack off,
The weight of the world is off your shoulders now;
Set that rifle down,
There is no hatred here;
Take that helmet off,
Your mind is now at ease;
Take that body armour off,
Your heart is now set free;
Take that uniform off,
Your soul has need to breathe;
Take those combat boots off,
The long march at last is done;
You've done all you can & gave all you could,
Now, you're in heaven with me.
Take that rucksack off,
The weight of the world is off your shoulders now;
Set that rifle down,
There is no hatred here;
Take that helmet off,
Your mind is now at ease;
Take that body armour off,
Your heart is now set free;
Take that uniform off,
Your soul has need to breathe;
Take those combat boots off,
The long march at last is done;
You've done all you can & gave all you could,
Now, you're in heaven with me.
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That's really good! How long did it take you to write that?
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Thanks for the compliment CPL. I wasn't sure about ever sharing it with anybody. It was kinda strange cause I've never written before, but while I was on that sentry shift, the lines just kinda came to me and then it was trying to assemble them in some form after my shift was done over a coffee and smoke. After I was finished writing it, I tore it out of my FMP and stuffed it into the back envelope of it and forgot all about it until I got back to Pet and cleaned out my FMP for an upcoming FTX. I found it and sent an e-mail version of it to my father in September and he liked it, so I thought I'd share it with the good men & women of this site.
PS - To answer your Q CPL., I think it took me about 15 minutes to do the rough outline in my head, then about 45 to put it into it's written form. Thanks again for the kind words on it.
PS - To answer your Q CPL., I think it took me about 15 minutes to do the rough outline in my head, then about 45 to put it into it's written form. Thanks again for the kind words on it.
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Reccecrewman,
Thats a great poem. May I have permission to send it on to my veteran's e-mail list please?
Thats a great poem. May I have permission to send it on to my veteran's e-mail list please?
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Jack,
You certainly have my permission to share it with whomever you wish. Thanks for thinking it's worth sharing.
Cheers
You certainly have my permission to share it with whomever you wish. Thanks for thinking it's worth sharing.
Cheers
the 48th regulator
Army.ca Fixture
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reccecrewman,
That was a brilliant poem, and believe me when I say this, I had a lump reading the poem and why you wrote it.
May I also keep the poem to give to select people? What is the exact title?
dileas
tess
That was a brilliant poem, and believe me when I say this, I had a lump reading the poem and why you wrote it.
May I also keep the poem to give to select people? What is the exact title?
dileas
tess
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