MikeForsythe 0 #1 December 17, 2007 TRIBUTE 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." Corporal James M. Schmidt, USMCTime and pressure will always show you who a person really is! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freefalle 0 #2 December 17, 2007 say what you will about the politics, but respect the people. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThighMan 5 #3 December 17, 2007 Thank you. Aim High, Airborne; all the way.Airborne Blue Skies, No Wind Feet and Knees Together Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mamajumps 0 #4 December 17, 2007 That brought tears to my eyes! Thanks for sharing Mike! God Bless our solidiers! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #5 December 17, 2007 Merry Christmas to all Gunslingers, Wingnuts, Bellhops, and Popeye wanna be's. Thanks to all servicemen of the US Military, and those of our allies. Merry Christmas to you all, and wishes for your triumphant, safe return. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kbordson 8 #6 December 17, 2007 Thank you for posting that, Mike. To all those separated from family during this season.... May you feel their love and support even from a distance. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Krip 2 #7 December 17, 2007 Thank you mike a very nice poem I've been meaning to say this for a long time and this is as good a time as any, Theres more to saying saying "we support our troop" than a political statement and a bumper sticker. Xmas time is a very hard for our toops and their families that have to be seperated during the holidays. The troops and their families need to know that they are not forgotten during the holiday season. And they need to know they will not be forgetton when they return to the US if they are injured with wounds that can or can not be seen by the naked eye. Some of us will continue to write our elected representatives year round to insure that you get the medical care and compensation you deserve. Lets not forget "We support our troops" doesn't just end when they return home this is a lifelong commitment even if we can't see their TBI & PTSD wounds. One Jump Wonder Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #8 December 17, 2007 Dammit Mike.... ya made me cry...So many have so little after their service.... when so many of us have so much. Thank you for posting that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
streaker 0 #9 December 18, 2007 Thanks for reminding us that many of our own won't be home for Xmas....... Be safe this Xmas troops....and thanks! StreakerHave a yippee ki ya day! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
docdialtone 0 #10 December 18, 2007 SEMPER FI to all that protect us!! Merry CHRISTMAS and Happy New Year! John Shields Cpl/USMC 1981-1985 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,471 #11 December 18, 2007 Thank you, JerryBaumchen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
