A Soldier's Christmas

an e-mail I received ^ | 12/7/00 | Michael Marks

[Aeronaut]

Thanks for all you do.

Thanks for all you do!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for posting this marvelous poem.

Thanks for the ping!

[Mr. Lucky]

Thanks for the bump. But now I have to explain to my secretary why I'm sitting in my office whimpering at the computer screen.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for this great poem. Those of us who were and are in the military know what a holiday without our families is like. The families with their loved ones in the service and away from home and maybe in harm's way suffer the most!

In our moderate size church, we have 24 men and women in the service at this time. Most will not be home for the holidays. None of these families will be alone this Christmas! They will be adopted for Christmas!

That is where we can help. Years ago during Desert Storm, a fairly new couple in our church was hit with the call up to active duty. The husband/Dad to the two young girls was called up to go over to Saudi Arabia.

We 'adopted' the wife and the two girls during this time. They were relatively new in town and at our Church and would have been alone for the holidays. We made sure that they had our place to go for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter before John came home!

If you know someone whose father or whomever is away protecting us, make the ones at home part of your family during the holidays! It is a simple act but one that shows that the ones at home that they are not alone!

I was adopted by a family right after the Cuban crisis in Floriduh for Thanksgiving. It still means a lot to me and even more for my wife. My adopted parents were a retired couple in their seventies. We exchanged Christmas cards until they both died!

We are not talking about charity here. You just need to expand the number at your dinner table and during the holiday functions. Include those whose relatives are standing guard for all of us in some cold or even hot place! Ask your priest or pastor if he knows of someone whose loved one is defending all of us. Then see if those loved ones would like to visit your home for Christmas!

[Fiddlstix]

Thanks for the Ping

[vikingchick]

Thanks for the ping!

[Shenandoah]

What a beautiful poem!

I've added it to The Literary Page of "American Veterans".

This page contains some of the best military and Veterans poetry I could find. There are also original works that people have submitted to me.

[RightOnline]

Terrific. Thanks for the ping, S.B.

[LarryLied]

Thanks for the link!

[COB1]

Thanks so much for the bump, Snow Bunny.
I, too, am typing through the tears.
Reminds me of that old WW II song:

"Bless them all, bless them all,
Bless the young, the short and the tall..."

Please God, bless them and bring them home to us.

[LadyX]

Thank you, Snow Bunny.
Things like this really hit hard, understanding the hearts of the men and women who willingly set aside their lives to ensure the freedoms we enjoy, and to try to create a climate where others can choose that for their nations.

Lord, we deeply appreciate Your gifts for this nation.
Strengthen us to make it a better one, and bless all Patriots past, present and future who have helped make it so.
Watch over those who defend us now, richly blessing them and their loved ones.
Amen.

[I_be_tc]

As I read this wonderful poem, FOX News showed the clip of the traitor at the same time. What a feeling of hateful disgust came over me.

This poem is so true of our brave warriors, thank you for sharing it with us all.

TC

[glock rocks]

may God bless all those in defense
of our way of life, past, present, and future.



thank you and Merry Christmas.

[terilyn]

Thank you both for the post and the ping.

Yesterday, a veteran was interviewed on Fox News. He said that he had served two tours in Viet Nam. The first time he came home to a cheering crowd, the second to eggs and tomatos being thrown at him and jeering and booing.

It made me cry to listen to him. His message was clear. Never forget. Whether the war is to defend us on our own soil, or to defend our freedoms against communism, the men and women placing their lives on the line now are doing it because they must and because they want to. It's for us and I thank each and every one of them from the bottom of my heart. They are all heros to me.

[4TheFlag]

Thanks for the PING MnM, WOW.........

[blackie]

Very powerful, thanks Snow Bunny !!

[SauronOfMordor]

bumpity

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

ALL,.. See Post #22 For information to write, e-mail our troops!!! (Thanks for the poem guys..and thanks for all your work TonkinGYC!!)

Please everyone.. go to post #22 and e-mail our troops. Tonkin has done all the hard work in providing the links for us all.. just tell them you appreciate them and love them. Thank our troops. Tell them we thank the families who are left behind without a Son, Daughter, Father, Mother, Brother or sister at home this season. Same goes for the friends who miss them.

But especially the troops!!!! God Bless them. Its so hard being away from loved ones during the holidays. They do this for us. They die for us. WE must never forget.. we must let them know we honor their service.

Big Bump for the troops!!!

[LiberteeBell]

Thank you for the post and the ping.

What a beautiful and moving tribute to our troops! May God bless them and keep them safe.

[pubmom]

BUMP