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.'





This poem was written by a Marine. The following is his request. I think it is reasonable.....
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,women, and Canadian Forces for our being able to celebrate these festivities.

I proudly have only one sticker on my car.. Simply states:
"Land of the free, Because of the Brave"
I commend all of our armed forces for such a wonderful gift they give us each day. Thank You ~K