A Different Christmas Poem

[submarinesailor]

I can not remember it this has been posted or not.  But, I thought it would be nice to shair it with you guys.

Bruce

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 sighed and he said 'Its really all right,
    I'm out here by choice. I'm 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 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 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.
    Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
    That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.'
   
    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.
   
     LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
    30th Naval Construction Regiment
    OIC, Logistics Cell One
    Al Taqqadum, Iraq

[thecfarm]

Very nice,Thank You.I know I read this before and I'm glad to read it again,it will never get old to read.I always read it word for word,even though I know how it ends.

[Don K]

Very heart warming. Definitely brings thoughts about other people and their unselfish service for us and our country. God bless all who have served and or currently serving. Merry christmas to you and your families.

Don

[RynSmith]

Thanks for posting that SMS, I hadn't read that before.  Very moving indeed.

[zopi]

Thanks...ya made me cry in mah chowdah!

I've got a bunch of folks to pass that to.

[Howdy]

Well I can't stay silent any longer, here is my first post.
Thank you for this reminder of our men and women who stand together on our behalf.

We can do so little to thank them for their sacrifice but one thing we can do it to help the families left here at home.  Our local radio station has a campaign every year called: Operation Santa Claus, where they fundraise and then distribute to families needing assistance.  Just a little from many helps a lot of good people and takes some stress off those who cannot be home.  It's time for me to do my part and put my wallet where my heart is.

[beenthere]

Welcome Howdy...or should I just say "Howdy"   ;D


You are right about giving some help when we can, and where we can.

USO is another place to give a bit for those who are giving their all.

[pineywoods]

Been there, done that, never regretted it for a second..Thanks...

[rbhunter]

Thanks for posting. I really liked that one.

[underdog]

So how do we explain the persons flooding across our border, terrorizing our citizens and undermining our infrastructure.???
http://www.proconservative.net/PCVol6Is117ErlerAmnestyIllegals.shtml
http://www.northcountrygazette.org/articles/030106LandSnatchers.html
http://www.newswithviews.com/baldwin/baldwin300.htm
Good poem. but i will not sleep better for it.

[Radar67]

Underdog, at last check, illegal immigration is policed by INS, not the US military. Our oath requires us to protect the US from enemies, both foreign and domestic, BUT until our Commander in Chief declares the illegals as enemies, we can do nothing.

I would hope you would sleep better just knowing that our men and women are standing on the front lines all around the world so you can freely express yourself. By the way, you are welcome for the freedoms my brothers and sisters at arms provide for you.

Bruce, thank you for posting this. I have seen several versions of it over my 18 years of service.

[underdog]

Underdog, at last check, illegal immigration is policed by INS, not the US military. Our oath requires us to protect the US from enemies, both foreign and domestic, BUT until our Commander in Chief declares the illegals as enemies, we can do nothing.

I would hope you would sleep better just knowing that our men and women are standing on the front lines all around the world so you can freely express yourself. By the way, you are welcome for the freedoms my brothers and sisters at arms provide for you.

Bruce, thank you for posting this. I have seen several versions of it over my 18 years of service.

Thank you for the clarification. I could not remember the fine print. I do thank them and i was one USN.
I could never get straight why our military protect everyone else's borders but our own.

The Posse Comitatus  Act of 1878
In a nutshell, this act bans the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines from participating in arrests, searches, seizure of evidence and other police-type activity on U.S. soil. The Coast Guard and National Guard troops under the control of state governors are excluded from the act.

Where the people at Waco enemies? http://www.dojgov.net/Waco01.htm
The border patrol is to political to get the job done.

[Radar67]

Our military is active in the drug war. Are they classified enemies?

There has been an Executive Order signed by the President concerning the drug wars. Technically, it is geared more toward the eradication of the drugs themselves, not the people involved.

I was unaware that you served, thank you.

[underdog]

We crossed each others posts. I found the answer in the The Posse Comitatus  Act of 1878

[Radar67]

The Posse Comitatus Act allows the military to support in an indirect way. They can loan equipment, provide training, help with planning, provide maintenance, and such. The vehicles (9 Bradleys) provided during Waco were unarmed and unmanned. The FBI provided the drivers. The court system has stated that the military's part in this was legal. With that said, let's get this back on topic...

There is a Marine, Army, and Navy version of this poem floating around. Has anyone else seen the variations?

[woodhick]

Very nice, thanks.