RIP MWO (Ret) Herbert Bruce Bellamy 25 Pl RCASC(A)
At approximately 1210 Local Time here in Ottawa 07 Feb.2009 a fellow apprentice slipped peacefully away to join the advance party
A 16 year old Apprentice
A Proud Father
MWO Bellamy and Daughter Shelly at her Cornwallis Graduation.
Granpa Bruce with his youngest Granddaughter Ariana Audrey.
Bruce leaves behind his wife Dianne.
Daughters Shelly and Carrie,
Their Mother Audrey Bruce's first wife.
Five Grandchildren. Dwayne, Daniel, Nicole, Morgan and Ariana Audrey.
Also his multitude of friends and comrades from his 35 years regular forces, then as a DND civilian till Aug 2008. God rest his soul. This simple poem is in remembrance of Bruce and all our other veterans who have passed away.
This poem was first published in 1987 in Larry Vaincourt's newspaper column. There are several versions of this poem circulating the web which contain errors;
below you'll find the original text.
For information regarding reprints or to contact Larry,
please e-mail vaincourt@gmail.com
JUST A COMMON SOLDIER
(A Soldier Died Today)
by A. Lawrence Vaincourt
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 had 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 Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today.
He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,
For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life.
Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,
And the world won't note his passing, though a soldier 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 their whole 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 guy who breaks his promises 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?
A politician's stipend and the style in which he lives
Are sometimes 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 so long ago,
That the old Bills of our Country went to battle, but we know
It was 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 want a politician with his ever-shifting stand?
Or would you prefer a soldier, who has sworn to defend
His home, his kin and Country and would fight until the end?
He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us we may need his like again.
For when countries 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 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 a paper that would say,
Our Country is in mourning, for a soldier died today.
(c) 1987 A. Lawrence Vaincourt
Nil SIne LAbore
Robby
