Posted on 12/20/2001 5:24:39 AM PST by mommadooo3
A Soldier's Christmas
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 eye 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 sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night"
"Its 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 always remembers."
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 sisters and brothers
who stand at the front against any and all,
to insure 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
is payment enough, and with that we will trust.
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.
Michael Marks
December 7th, 2000
marksman@patriot.net
In loving appreciation of the countless Americans who have and continued to serve in the Armed Forces, and those who gave their life for their country. Your sacrifices will never be forgotten. We look forward to the day you come home. God bless and keep you always, and God Bless America!
May GOD keep a special watch over our troops...and over our country. Bless them all!!!
Snow Bunny, would you be so kind as to lend your 'ping list' to this? There are SOOO many freepers who are our honored vets. I would do a disservice if I tried to remember them all, and would leave out too many.
Thanks for all you do.
Thanks so much for the ping! God Bless You.
Keep the Faith for Freedom
MAY GOD BLESS AND DEFEND THIS HONORABLE REPUBLIC
Greg
NEVER FORGET!
For those of us who have vets in our family/circle of friends....a printed copy of this poem would make a special 'thank you', Christmas remembrance for them. Framed and hanging on a wall is a 'year-round' gift.
(hohoho, it's BACK to work I go)
And thanks so much, mommadooo3 for posting this wonderful poem.
I can't speak for everyone, but I know this captures my sentiments on the Chritmases I've spent in some God-forsaken holes...
God bless the patriots that are spending their lives and their blood in these times to ensure our security and our liberties...
I wish to extend a Merry Christmas to all of my brother sailors who are out at sea at this time of year. I remember Christmas Day 1998, I was on the USS BOXER (LHD-4) sitting off the coastline of Iwo Jima. Seeing this little pimple of land where so many of my brother Marines had fallen in 1944. A long way from home, and my loved ones.
I know what you are going through, but know that it is because of us that so many here can have Christmas to celebrate.
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