That is awesome!! Thanks for sharing.SALUTE!
Tell your son welcome home and thanks from all of us.
That is awesome!! Thanks for sharing......TISSUE ALERT......
this is beautiful. I sent it to everyone I know, especially my sons (former Marine, active Marine) thank you so much for posting this.
A MARINE’S 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,
On the wall hung pictures
Of far distant lands.
With medals and badges,
Awards of all kinds,
A sobering thought
Came through my mind.
For this house was different,
It was damp, dark and dreary.
I’d found the home of a Marine,
Once I could see clearly.
The Marine lay sleeping,
Silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor,
In this one bedroom home.
The face was so gentle,
In the room, 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’d seen 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. 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.
Me too. Thank you for posting it.
Cool. I didn't see that coming - I thought it was going to be Santa and the reindeer - instead a marine - I'm cryin'.
Is there a page containing this that we can get by e-mail? I would love to send this to friends. Thanks.
I would love to get a copy of this suitable for framing to give to some friends whose young marine is in IRAQ for Christmas.
May God bless them, everyone.
Having a tough time reading this, seem to suddenly have something in my eye. Thanks for posting, and endless thanks to those who stand guard.
Best Regards
Sergio
Doing a search before posting it despite the fact that there's something in my eye.