A La Salle Brother Died Today

A Eulogy for Br. Benedict by Edwin Lee

And he travels around the regions, telling stories of the past,
Of the school that he taught in and the deeds that he had done
And the exploits of his students; bigger than life, everyone.
And 'tho sometimes to his friends, his tales became a joke,
All his old students listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer, for Brother Ben has passed away
And the world's a little poorer, for a La Salle brother died today.
No he won't be mourned by many, no children and no wife,
For he lived an ordinary very quiet sort of life.
He helped the school and alumni, quietly going on his way;
And the world won't note his passin'; 'tho a brother died today.

When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great,
But the passing of a La Salle brother goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land
Some jerk who breaks his promise and cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary brother who even in times of war and strife
Stays and serves our country and sometimes has to offer up his life?
The politicians stipend and the style in which he lives
Are sometimes disproportionate to the services he gives,
While the ordinary brother, who offered up his all,
Is paid off with nary a medal, with perhaps a pension small.

It's so easy to forget them, for it was so long ago
That our Brother Gabriel and Brother Ben taught us, but we know
It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys,
Who taught us about religion, morals and values that our country now enjoys.

As we find our sons and daughters ready for college with elections at hand,
Do we really want some cop-out leaders with their ever waffling stand?
Or would you want him to be educated by a brother who has sworn to each about religion, morals and values and would teach until the very end?

He was one of La Salle's brothers and their ranks are growing thin
But his demise should remind us, we will need his kind again.
For when our country is in conflict, then we find the brother's part
Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.
Perhaps just a simple headline in the paper that might say: