A Soldier's Christmas

[NiteHawk]

I love this poem and like to share it with everyone. It makes me sad but very proud that I have served my country and others are faithfully serving. I hope you all like it as well..


A Soldiers Christmas

'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."

[POWERJIM]

Most Soldiers are out getting p!ssed on christmas eve, i wouldnt worry about it.

[howardalex]

Originally Posted by POWERJIM

Most Soldiers are out getting p!ssed on christmas eve, i wouldnt worry about it.

100% true man

[Hawkwind]

My son was on standby a couple Christmases in a row. He wasn't out gettin' lit. So...now you know one soldier/airman that was sober.

Thanks Nite. I love that one. My son sent it to me the first Christmas he was away from home and on standby.

[POWERJIM]

Originally Posted by Hawkwind

My son was on standby a couple Christmases in a row. He wasn't out gettin' lit. So...now you know one soldier/airman that was sober.

Thanks Nite. I love that one. My son sent it to me the first Christmas he was away from home and on standby.

Then your son is a saint.

[Hawkwind]

No...just very serious about his job. You wouldn't want him lit doing his job. Trust me on that!
My oldest on the other hand...as long as he wasn't on standby...he'd be out tying one on.

[POWERJIM]

Originally Posted by Hawkwind

No...just very serious about his job. You wouldn't want him lit doing his job. Trust me on that!
My oldest on the other hand...as long as he wasn't on standby...he'd be out tying one on.

Theres nothing finer than a soldier whos p!ssed and in control of an m60.

[mywetnightmares]

The M60 is certainly an awesome weapon, but if I had a choice I'd go with a mk 48 instead.