Ken74Conv

ith the holidays coming on I thought this would be good to forward on.
Craig

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Begin forwarded message <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
>
> 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 MANTLE,
> > >> > JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
> > >> > AND ON THE WALL PICTURES
> > >> > OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.
> > >> >
> > >> > WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
> > >> > AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
> > >> > A SOBERING THOUGHT
> > >> > CAME TO MY MIND.
> > >> >
> > >> > FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
> > >> > SO DARK AND SO DREARY,
> > >> > THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
> > >> > NOW 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 SOON 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 EVENING'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 stationed in Okinawa Japan.
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
US servicemen 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.

74Coupe

Boy, did it bring back memories of Christmas when I was stationed in Viet Nam.

Have started to forward to my old buddies.

:flag :flag :flag :flag :flag

The Wanderer

I remember Christmas 1971 ... DaNang for me :flag

1969Diver

For me it was Christmas 1990 in the Saudi desert. (U.S. Army 24th Infantry) I have really been thinking about those guys in Afganistan alot lately :flag

98RKC

As I read the poem and the other replies it once again solidified the reason I'm so proud to be an American. It never ceases to amaze me how many men and women out there have selflessly given of themselves so I can live the life I have become accustomed to. I'm not an exteamly religous man but all I can say is God Bless each and every one of you, And my deepest thanks for doing what you've done or still do.

I hope this comes across the way I mean for it to.