FReeper Canteen~Merry Christmas Troops~25 Dec 08

Merry Christmas & May God Bless! | Canteen Crew

[TASMANIANRED]

Merry Christmas , Jinxy.

[TASMANIANRED]

Yarks, I didn’t do a very good job sizing .

[luvie]

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light.
Then he said, "Its really all right, I'm out here every night."

"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,'
Then he sighed, 'That's a Christmas Gram I'll always remember.'
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.

I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.

I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?

It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.

To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.

A prayer over our casket as they lay us to rest.
Or, as you pass in life say, "Thanks! You did your best."
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

Author Unknown

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!
GOD BLESS AMERICA!

[higgmeister]

“Uhny Uftz!”

[TASMANIANRED]

Merry Christmas.

I’m not missing the spirit ..but I’m missing my family gathering. Duty calls.

[TASMANIANRED]

Sniff, sniff.

[mylife]

Merry Christmas to all in the Canteen!

[TheMom]

Thank you for posting this song.

[luvie]

That's beautiful, Sissy!

[luvie]

Me, too! *sniff*

[television is just wrong]

cool.

[luvie]

[SandRat]

Odd electrons I guess.

[brushcop]

Thank you Kathy, all of your for what you do for morale, it isn’t said enough but we are blessed by all the Canteen posters.

Merry Christmas, may God bless you all and keep you safe, healthy and connected with your loved ones.

[HiJinx]

Thank you, Taz...that’s so touching...every time I see or think about the Holy Family, I wonder anew at what it all means; both then and now.

[mylife]

Gee! Thanks Luv!

BTW, your movie is on TBS right now ;)

[TheMom]

Thank you Kathy for posting this song.

thackney - This is the John Holiday & William Adams duet I was talking about.

[swmobuffalo]

Now you done it, my monitor’s blurry.

[SandRat]

BAGHDAD BUDDIES - U.S. Army Sgt. Christopher Adams, a dog handler, and his working dog Mattias, along with U.S. Army soldiers, Iraqi soldiers and Iraqi national police conduct a neighborhood cordon and search in Baghdad, Iraq, Dec. 15, 2008. Adams is assigned to the 4th Infantry Division's 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery, 3rd Brigade. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Edwin M. Bridges

[AZamericonnie]

WooHooo!!!! Your home!

So glad you made it home safe & sound.

BTW......loved the pic of you & Allegra & how cool is it you two were able to meet in person!

Merry Christmas! *Hugs*