A Special Thanks to Our Overseas Soldiers

   So I just received this poem in a chain e-mail I received from my mom just a few minutes ago (I have to be honest-I'm not a chain email type of girl.  Whenever I see one, it's deleted right away).  But for some reason today, I happened to actually click on the email to see what it was all about.  I read it all the way through, and it really struck a chord.  Christmas is coming, and I know my family has SO much to be thankful for, thanks to these guys!

 

  (This poem was written by a Marine stationed in Okinawa Japan)

  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 WHO
  IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.
 
  I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
  A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
  NOT EVEN A TREE.

  
  NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
 OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.
  
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
 CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

 FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
 IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,

I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
 ONCE I COULD 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 ROUND THE WORLD,
   THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
   AND 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.
  
    THE 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
   AND 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,
   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."