FMAT: Remember those who serve this holiday season

[Clark Kent]

Remember those who serve this holiday season
By silat1 - Mon, 10 Dec 2007 12:00:35 GMT
Originally Posted at: FMATalk
====================

As a Military retiree and a father of a son who is prepping up for his 4th tour to Iraq, I felt this appropriate for this time of year




A New 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,
>
> 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."
>





Please take time and remember those who have and are currently serving so that we can enjoy the season as appropriate..


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