OT. Poem

> New Christmas Poem
>
> TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
> IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.
>
> I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
> AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.
>
> I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
> NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,NOT EVEN A TREE.
>
> NO STOCKING BY MANTEL,JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
> ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.
>
> WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
> A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND.
>
> FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
> I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.
>
> THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,SILENT,ALONE, CURLED UP ON THE
> FLOOR
> IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.
>
> THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
> NOT HOW I PICTURED A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.
>
> WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
> CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,THE FLOOR FOR A BED?
>
> I REALIZED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
> OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO
> FIGHT.
>
> SOON ROUND THE WORLD,THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY, AND GROWNUPS
> WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.
>
> THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR, BECAUSE OF
> THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.
>
> I COULDN'T HELP WONDER HOW MANY LAY ALONE, ON A COLD
> CHRISTMAS EVE
> IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.
>
> THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,I DROPPED TO MY
> KNEES
> AND STARTED TO CRY.
>
> THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
> 'SANTA DON'T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;
>
> I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
> MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS.'
>
> THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
> I COULDN'T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP.
>
> I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL
> AND WE BOTH SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.
>
> I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
> THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR SO WILLING TO FIGHT.
>
> THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER, WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
> WHISPERED, 'CARRY ON SANTA,IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL
> IS SECURE.'
>
> ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
> 'MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,AND TO ALL A GOOD
> NIGHT.'
>
> This poem was written by a Marine.
>
> The following is his request. I think it is reasonable.....
>
>
> PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending
> this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming
> soon and some credit is due to our U.S. service men and
> women for our being able to celebrate these festivities.
> Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what
> we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living
> and
> dead, who sacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your
> small part to plant this small seed

WOW. that was great!!!!!

I've seen this before and it still brings tears to my eyes.

I have just "adopted" a soldier serving in Iraq. Through a group here where I work, I picked a name from a list and was given his "wish" list - nyquil, hunting magazines, razors. Things we take for granted.

I have his mailing address and will be putting together a box of goodies with more than just his wish list.

I was also told they crave news of home and if I could write once and a while and maybe send pictures, it would be appreciated a bunch. That's a small request I'll be glad to fulfill.

I will be asking James to load a slide show of our farm on the internet and send "my" soldier a link.

We have so much, its a wonderful opportunity to show a soldier we care.

Ya'll have a Merry CHRISTmas.

'''{This I added above the poem, I never heard it before and I thank you for it.}
----------------------------------------------------or
It is hard to remember all our Veterans, and these need consideration too.

Their lifestyle has been probably been brought on by the war and through drugs .They have become what they are , trying to forget,but instead having nightmares of the backflashes in their minds, of sights most of us never saw and if it weren't for his effort, those sights could be commonplace in our land.

They can't see a way out so they live below poverty to support a habit , to relieve the pain of waking up at night still on duty and feeling like the war isn't over because the dreams are so real, the war wont let them go.

I don't agree with the way they chose to face their problem, but I can understand that these human beings sacrificed more than most will give them credit for.

I guess the reason I have compassion for these people is because I am a veteran myself.

Now the poem don't cover these people I am talking about but ,of the fine men that are sacrificing their {and I will say CHRISTMAS} though the local schools is not willing to say that anymore, and teaching my grand kids it is wrong. ---Because I fought for that freedom of speech.

God Bless You and James.
That soldier will appreciate your trying to extend A CHRISTMAS that he will forever remember.

I wouldn't be surprised he will keep in touch on his return.

So little seems so much,when away from home.

Just forwarded it from N.C. to CA. Ten more people now have the chance to send it on.

Thanks, it was wonderful!!

Great Ma'am! Thanks!
One thing though, and it may or may not pertain to your particular Soldier, nyquil, robitussin, and other cough/cold medicines are high on the watch list for the substance abuse folks. I live/work in a Military community and the shoppettes/PX can't keep enough of the stuff on the shelves. I've saw some of these kids buying 8-9 bottles of the stuff at a time in July (not your typical cold/flu weather). Just a thought.

http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/AmericaSupportsYou/index.aspx

Folks can also send messages to the troops from this site. Think you can even adopt a Soldier here also.

Take Care and have a Merry Christmas.


Dave