Poppies, Gas Warfare And The Green Fields Of France Poem by Joe Rosochacki

Henry Allingham died today along with Uncle Walter Cronkite.
Henry was 113, Walter was 92.
They had experienced in their site,
Both the grandeur and debauchery of mankind, they knew.
Henry, did happen to see Willy McBride?
Henry was almost the last person alive that served in World War I.
Henry fought the Germans in a war to end all wars,
But when it was done,
There were many more skirmishes and wars to come.
They were a lot more killings to be done,
For the next 90 + years and counting.
Walter Cronkite covered World War II, Korean Conflict,
(which still goes on) ,
and he covered the conflict in Vietnam.
Henry and Walter will have a great discussion in hereafter.
Although, time and space excluded them on earth,
Still they have something in common.
They were involved in world conflicts.
Henry fought in one,
Walter informed the masses through mass media,
Radio, print, and later TV.
Walter was the most trusted man in America 30+ years ago.
Henry was brave soldier that outlasted many of compadres.
Walter was ‘the anchor man,
- which all newscasters in TV admired him throughout the days.
“So that’s the way it is July 18,2009, ” Walter Cronkite would have said.
As far as Henry Allingham, say hello to Willy McBride.
Ask him how has been.
And so the song goes;

and I can't help but wonder oh Willy McBride
do all those who lie here know why they died
did you really believe them when they told you the cause
did you really believe that this war would end wars
well the suffering, the sorrow, the glory, the shame
the killing and dying it was all done in vain
oh Willy McBride it all happened again
and again, and again, and again, and again

[Chorus]
did they beat the drums slowly
did they play the fife lowly
did they sound the death march as they lowered you down
did the band play the last post and chorus
did the pipes play the flowers of the forest

7-18-09