ODE TO THE OLD GUARD

To the Old Guardsman
To the doctors, accountants,
Teachers, judges, lawyers and bankers
To the men who have served and the lives they have led.

To the police and firemen, architects and merchants
The businessmen and workers
The dentists and brokers.

Through wars and peace - through recessions and booms
To the professionals, administrators, builders and realtors.

Dealing with successes and failures,
Births, sickness and deaths.

Through happy times and sadness
The highs and lows of life.

To the leaders and followers,
The sons, husbands, fathers, grandfathers and more.

From all religious and ethnic backgrounds-all walks of life-
We have survived and thrived-
Veterans all!

So we applaud this group-These grand old men-
With affection, friendship and camaraderie.

Old Guardsmen --a toast to you
And the generations that follow.

Robert Sandler  2013