Subject: A Christmas thought fo us all > > 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." > > > > 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 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. > > > > . . . And Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to all! > > > > > > > > > > >