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Contributor: Richard Hemphill || Poem Categories

A Forgotten Hero

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Who is that man I asked myself
As I watched him from afar
Sitting on a park-bench there,
Trying to light an old cigar...
I wondered where he had gotten it
For the shape was not so round
And so I whispered to myself
Perhaps he found it on the ground-
Being curious like I always am
I wanted to find out more, because
I write for the daily newspaper, and
News is what I'm looking for...
So I walked over to the man
And asked, "Mind if I sit down"?
He said "Please do my friend, I wish you would
Cause no-one ever comes around"-
I asked to see just what it was that
He was holding in his hands...
He said "just a couple old war Medals
But folks today don't understand-
I've been a 'tryin'to sell'em both so
I can get a bite to eat
But folks say no, they're out of style,
World War Two medals are antiques."
I gave the old timer a five dollar bill
As I got up from the bench to leave
And I said "you keep your precious Medals friend
You've earned them I do believe."
A day or so later I picked up a paper
And was reading an article which said,
A man was found on a park-bench
And the poor old fellow was dead.
No one seems to have known him, since
He was homeless, no family, no land,
Just a couple of old War Medals
Which he clutched tightly in his hands...
A Bronze Star Medal and a Purple Heart
Tells us that he gave his best-and
Now one more "Forgotten Hero"
Is being laid to rest.
Richard Hemphill
Copyright 2004
http://forgottenheroesusa.com

~~ You can send your comments directly to Richard. ~~

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