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Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: DFW
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Here is my yearly ritual once again....
I am fortunate to be home for the holidays this year once again. 3 days after we went out for a 3 week workup cruise, the U.S.S. Truman left for a 6 month deployment. They will be having Christmas away from their families. After the first of the year I don't know where I'll be. We go back out to the ship the first week of Jan for another 5 week workup. We are supposed to return, however..... I think you can all guess what that means with all that is happening in the world right now.
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 whom ,
In this home did live.
I looked all about,
A strange site I did see,
No tinsel, no presents,
and not even a tree.
No stocking by the mantle,
just boots filled with sand,
On the wall hung pictures,
of far distant lands.
With medals and badges,
awards of all kind,
A sobering thought,
came through my mind.
For this house was different,
it was dark and dreary,
I found the home of a soldier,
once I started to 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 around the world,
the children would play,
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
This 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,
As 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,
He 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”.
A Marine stationed in Okinawa Japan wrote this a few years ago. The holidays will be coming soon. There will be servicemen and servicewomen who will be unable to celebrate the holidays with their families. Keep them in thought.
Jim
__________________
“MICROSOFT: Where do you want to go today? APPLE: Where do you want to go tomorrow? LINUX: Are you coming or what?”
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