Not in vain, not in vain, is our bright banner flying; Not for naught are the sons of our fond mothers dying; The gloom and despair are not ever to last; The world shall be better when they shall have passed. So mourn not his absence, but smile and be brave; You shall have him again from the brink of the grave In a wonderful world 'neath a wonderful sun; He shall come to your arms with his victory won. The Christmas Box Oh, we have shipped his Christmas box with ribbons red 'tis tied, And he shall find the things he likes from them he loves inside, But he must miss the kisses true and all the laughter gay And he must miss the smiles of home upon his Christmas Day. He'll spend his Christmas 'neath the Flag; he'll miss each merry face, Old Glory smiling down on him must take his mother's place, Yet in the Christmas box we've sent, in fancy he will find The laughter and the tears of joy that he has left behind. His mother's tenderness is there, his father's kindly way, And all that went last year to make his merry Christmas Day; He'll see once more his sister's smile, he'll hear the baby shout, And as he opens every gift we'll gather round about. He cannot come to share with us the joys of Christmas Day; The Flag has called to him, and he is serving far away. Undaunted, unafraid and fine he stands to duty grim, And so this Christmas we have tried to ship ourselves to him. A Plea God grant me these: the strength to do Some needed service here; The wisdom to be brave and true; The gift of vision clear, That in each task that comes to me Some purpose I may plainly see. God teach me to believe that I Am stationed at a post, Although the humblest 'neath the sky, Where I am needed most, And that, at last, if I do well, My humble services will tell. God grant me faith to stand on guard, Uncheered, unspoke, alone, And see behind such duty hard My service to the throne. Whate'er my task, be this my creed: I am on earth to fill a need. Your Country Needs You The country needs a man like you, It has a task for you to do. It has a job for you to face. Somewhere for you it has a place. Not all the slackers dodge the work Of service where the cannon lurk, Not all the slackers on life's stage Are boys of military age. The old, the youthful and unfit Must also do their little bit. The country needs a man like you, 'Twill suffer if you prove untrue. What though you cannot bear a gun? That isn't all that's to be done. There are a thousand other ways To serve your country through the days Of trial and the nights of storm. You need not wear a uniform Or with the men in council sit To serve the Flag and do your bit.