THE WAR MEMORIAL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 49, 13 November 1946, Page 6

THE WAR MEMORIAL

How best can we commerate The war that rocked the world? Now the guns are silent, And Victory flags are furled; Some say it should be monumental, Which others term ‘morbidly sentimental’, Others propose fields for sport, Or a beautified waterside resort— Human nature ever so contrary, Is naturally bound to vary— From boyhood’s painful bleeding nose, To statesmen’s heavy verbal blows— But to return to the vital question, Apart from each varying suggestion, Me thinks that instead of 'art unions and dances, Each contributor should cut their chances, And give a straightout contribution, To such a worthy institution; For after all is said and done, What the boys faced for us, Was far from fun; To look for 90 per cent, of pleasure, Out of such a serious measure, Is like the boy at the school picnic, Who tried to out-eat his cobber Dick, And was carried home, deservedly sick; But seriously, our respect and pride, In and for those who for us suffered and died, Demands a willingness to part Unreservedly, with a grateful heart, To put our returned boys in the sun, Who chanced their all, that everyone The rights of freedom might retain— Don’t let them think they’ve fought • in vain; In spite of the contradictory noise, Give freely and only for the boys; When the money’s up, it should be spent Wisely, and with the sole intent Of remembering the dead and living, With the result of gratitude—straightout giving. • H. SERGEANT.