Several years ago I wrote a song which still expresses my feelings today:


                      THE SOLDIER'S TRIBUTE
   
         
    NOW THE SHELLS ARE COMING FAST, HEAR THE CANNON'S MIGHTY BLAST
    SEE THE MINE EXPLODING OVER THERE
   YOU CAN HEAR THE WOUNDED MOAN OUT THERE WHERE THE BULLETS ROAM
   OH WHAT A BURDEN THE POOR SOLDIER BEARS

    NOW THE SOLDIER STOOD ALONE AND THOUGHT OF HIS NATIVE HOME
    OF HIS WIFE WHO'S WAITING FOR HIM FAR AWAY
    HE THOUGHT OF HIS LITTLE GIRL WITH HER SILKY GOLDEN CURLS
    BUT WAR WAS ON AND SO HE HAD TO STAY

    THE SUN HAS SET; THE DAY IS DONE; WORK IS OVER; WAR IS WON!
    SOON YOU WILL BE GOING HOME ONCE MORE
    AND THE SHADOWS ON THE TRAIL SEEM TO STAND ERECT AND HAIL
    THE SOLDIER WHO IS MARCHING HOME FROM WAR

    YOU HAVE LIVED THROUGH THAT GREAT FIGHT, AND YOU'RE GOING HOME   
    TONIGHT
    WITH YOUR WIFE AND LITTLE GIRL YOU'LL BE
    YOU DESERVE TO GET THE REST; IN THE FIGHT YOU'VE DONE YOUR BEST
    IT'S MEN LIKE YOU WHO KEEP OUR COUNTRY FREE
   
       (c) 1996
       A.McLean
   a.mclean@ns.sympatico.ca