Originally Posted By: rking
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Hi All,
I just received this e-mail and I thought I would post it here.
I do not know this person, nor do I know any US Military or Naval Personnel but..... Happy Holidays to 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.
> >
--
Muskoka Home Inspections
"Wisdom is the Anticipation of the Consequences"
Steering Committee Member At Large