| Author | Message | ||
     Firebolt020283  |
this was emailed to me and almost made me cry cuz it is very sad but true as to what some of us feel and go through being deployed. CHRISTMAS SACRIFICE 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 stationed in Okinawa Japan | ||
| Signguyxb12  |
firebolt...thank you for your sacrifice semper fi Can i send you anything bro...just say the word | ||
| Edean  |
Thank you, Firebolt, may God bless you and your family. My family is free because of men and women like you! Our prayers are with you. | ||
| Ethanr  |
Great poem! Often attributed to a Marine in Okinawa, this poem was, indeed, written by a Marine, though he was in Washington, D.C. at the time. More details and the original version at <http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/soldier.asp>. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
thanks guy im fine just getting to read bad web everytime i can is good enuff for me (unless u could convence buell and the us postal servece that i need a blast sent here to schoot around the F.O.B.) but really im doing great cuz i dont have to much longer in this sand pit then ill be going home. The poem was well writen explination as to how most of us feel. Id rather be here doing what im doing knowing that my baby boy is safe at home able to have his chistmas. as i said in another post thanks to everyone one on bad web for all the suport yall have shown for the several ones of us here in iraq. | ||
| Henrik  |
Thank you Firebolt - for both the poem and your service and sacrifice. Henrik | ||
| Bomber  |
God bless (in whatever form you envision him) all our uniformed brothers and sisters -- it's a tough time of year to be far from home -- please know we are thinking of you all | ||
| Doughnut  |
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