Joel T. Bailey

The “Silent Sentinel” stands watch over the Granite Sea at the Navy Memorial in Washington DC, and other maritime locations throughout the U.S.THE OLD SALT

He sits on a bench at the beach
And watches the tide come in
He talks to all who’ll listen
About the places he’s been

He says: I was there at Pearl
When the laps hit that day
And I helped haul the troops
That landed on Midway

Yea I’ve sailed around the world
From the Med to the Philippines
Been on all kinds of ships
From battleships to submarines

He says times sure have changed
From the way it was back then
The women all stayed home
And left the fighting to the men

He says: l know it won’t be long
Before I sail that heavenly sea
I know there’s a ship up there waiting
For all the old salts like me