O/T but thought it was nice

[ChrisD]

Here's a little something to remember your

people overseas.

Off topic but I thought it would be nice to share

> >>Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2001 9:50 PM

> >>Subject: CHRISTMAS

> >>

> >>

> >>Sunday November 11, 2001 is Veteran's Day, Thanks to all the Vets!

> >>Lest we forget!

> >>Vicki

> >>

> >>

> >>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,

> >>AND ON THE WALL PICTURES

> >>OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

> >>

> >>WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,

> >>AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,

> >>A SOBERING THOUGHT

> >>CAME TO MY MIND.

> >>

> >>FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,

> >>SO DARK AND SO DREARY,

> >>THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,

> >>NOW 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 SOON 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 EVENING'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. 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.

> >>servicemen

> >>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.

>

>

>