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Soldiers Night Before Christmas

Posted By: Greg A.
Date: Wednesday, 8 December 2004, at 12:20 p.m.

Merry Christmas everyone!

TąWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Tąwas 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 the 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 is such disorder,
Not how I pictured,
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

Was this the Hero
Of whom Iąd 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 couldnąt 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 donąt 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 couldnąt control it,
I continued to weep.

I kept watch for hours,
So silent and still,
And we both shivered,
>From the cold nightąs chill.

I didnąt 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, łCarry on Santa,
Itąs 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.

Messages In This Thread

Soldiers Night Before Christmas
Greg A. -- Wednesday, 8 December 2004, at 12:20 p.m.

Re: Soldiers Night Before Christmas
mike g -- Wednesday, 8 December 2004, at 8:06 p.m.

Re: Soldiers Night Before Christmas
Vic Roy -- Wednesday, 8 December 2004, at 8:29 p.m.

Re: Soldiers Night Before Christmas
Gary Gibson -- Thursday, 9 December 2004, at 12:37 a.m.