> >Subject: just for you > > > > > >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."