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. 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.

Please remember all the military and all the private contractors who are in the Middle East. My dad is there and will be coming home for Christmas...but many who will not get to come home.

Nice sentiment. Thank you.

I like that one, Laurie.

Hey binarian, we should be thanking U and Dali too.