[AFNurse]

With the weather cooling down, I thought this may be a good time (tho early for Christmas) for this. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have..... I have seen it a couple times over the last couple of times. To fully enjoy this, read it like you would read "Twas the Night Before Christmas".


A Soldiers Xmas

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.

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."

[AFNurse]

I knew I posted this on the board awhile back!! Took some looking but finally found it. I think it is a good Christmas read. Merry Christmas to all!!

[05glide]

I grew up an Army brat myself. Even though I never enlisted I have a special place in my heart for the military. I may not agree with everything politicians do, well I don't agree with hardly anything a politician does, but I owe my way of life to the solders who fought and are are still fighting to protect this country. God bless them all. Thanks for the post AFNurse

[chucktx]

very good post, thanks for posting it!!!!
chuck

[FLHTbiker]

Great Post

Update on my son in Iraq.

My daughter said he came home a couple of weeks ago, so at least he is out of their.

Now my brothers youngest son is there. He is a sniper in falluja (probably misspelled).

[SK]

Glad to hear your son is home Marc..that's got to be a relief. Now you gotta worry about your nephew..so it continues.

Hopefully this election this week will be the start of the Sunni's induction into a permanent Iraqi government and it will quell the insurgency..though I'm not counting on it. The sooner we get the Iraqi military up to speed, the sooner we can start bringing our soldiers home. Unfortunately I believe that corruption and infiltration within their military isn't going to let that happen as soon as we'd like.

[Sleepy]

A quiet prayer and thanks for those who aren't home...Marc, I'm glad your son is home. i'm not holding a lot of optimism for a quick resolution in Iraq..or Afghanistan..all of my family is living on civvy street now.

[FLHTbiker]

OK, we give, Pat and I want to know what civvy street is?

[Sleepy]

Civvy street is where us civilians live...we're the lucky ones.