Christmas Poem

[cavscout]

I get this email every year and it always touches my heart as I remember being away from home this time of year. What our warriors want for Christmas is simply for us to appreciate the gift they are providing by their sacrifice.

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 MANTLE,
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.

AND 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."

[MACKAY]

That will put a tear in your eye and make you proud as can be. Thanks for reminding us all what we owe to those who choose to defend us, regardless of our nationality or politics.

Brian Mackay

[davedove]

They have been playing a reading of the poem a few times a day here on 99.9 WFRE. They actually warn people because it is so emotional.

My prayers go out to all those far from home and family.

[Owl of Oban]

Thanks Cavscout. What a marvelous remembrance for those who guard us while we sleep.

[Iolaus]

I've read that poem for years, and it never fails to tear me up at the end.

Every nation owes its existence to the men willing to fight for it. Those of us who have not served owe a debt we can never repay to those that have.

To all soldiers - past, present, and future:

Thankyou.

[Southern Breeze]

Thats awsome.I'll have to pass that one on.

[cormacmacguardhe]

Something for us all to remember all year round. My heartfelt thanks to all who served in whatever capacity. Freedom is never free it must be purchased with the blood and sweat of our soldiers.

[Big Paul]

Something for us all to remember all year round. My heartfelt thanks to all who served in whatever capacity. Freedom is never free it must be purchased with the blood and sweat of our soldiers.

Amen!




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[Big Dave]

What a tear jerker. Thanks for sharing.

[Shay]

As a vet, I appreciate all the kind words.

I feel I should point out a) we did sign up for this stuff, and b) Christmas is almost never like that for the vast majority of soldiers these days, thanks to great programs like Dear Abby's or local gift drives... which I encourage everyone on my in-box to contribute to when they send me e-mails like these.

Writing a letter to your government to ask them to treat soldiers better (however you may define that) is something I would even more strongly recommend- it's one thing to say I Support the Troops on a sticker, it's another to tell your elected officials exactly why and how you'd like the country to do so.