An old man died today,
Forgotten and alone;
Lying on a bench in the park
Because he didn’t have a home.
No one ever knew his name,
No one knew the story of his life.
In a pocket was a polished medal
And a photo if his son and wife.
In a wallet was a letter,
Yellowed with the passing years,
I took it out to see who he once was -
And in reading it, my very soul wept tears.
“To Whom it may concern,
If you are reading this, then I am dead.
This was never intended to be read while I was alive,
But since I have gone - this is the life I lead.
I went to war, leaving behind my family.
Looking back, by God was I young!!
I had a loving wife, and I loved her so,
And we had Joseph, our baby son.
Still I went to war, it was a nobel cause -
Or so I thought when I enlisted, had I only known.
When I think back on they day we shipped out
It was so beautiful, everything seemed so new it positively shone.
Someone once said “War is Hell,”
I wish I knew that before.
All I can say, is I saw what he meant
Every day since I landed on that distant shore.
You covered your friend’s back, he’d covered yours -
Look away a moment, and he was gone.
The war was like a nightmarish game of chess
And everyone was a sacrificial pawn.
I remember one boy, I swear he could have been my brother.
He was shot up badly - in my arms he died.
He was only nineteen, so young, so very scared.
When his flame went out, how I cried.
After awhile I got used to death.
Men, boys mostly, falling left and right
From gun shots, mines and grenades -
Even through closed eyes it was a hell of a sight.
After months, years of those dark times
They sent me home with a medal of honor, to my life.
What was I suppose to do? My own son did not even know me.
Thus began more years of strife.
My family tried to help me, to “make it easier” they said,
But I could always hear the bullets, the screams,
And the nightmare never ended, never was over
Because it lived forever in my dreams.
I lost my family if only to save them.
I could not, would not share this pain.
I loved them, I love them still, too much -
So I alone went insane.
This is the short story of my life,
But it is not one I share alone.
So many boys left, and men returned,
And so many more never went home.
I may only have a medal to show of my sacrifice,
But I hold something more dear to me;
I served my country with so many brave men
And they all live in my memory.”
I never knew this man before,
I never knew his name -
And there are so many like him
Who die alone and forgotten - and who is to blame?
In my heart his words reside,
Echoing forever thankfully.
In memory of his sacrifice and that of others
I give this eulogy:
A Veteran died today, forgotten,
Another will die tomorrow, alone;
Lying in a park or ally
Because they no longer have a home.
And this is the thanks we give to heroes:
To die alone and forgotten is their fate,
When so many gave all they had
And believed in something grate.
They gave their lives for this country,
To protect the future of you and me -
Please, don’t let them die Forgotten Heroes,
Let them live forever in our memories.
