T’was 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 did I see,
No tinsel, No presents, Not even a tree.
No stockings by mantle,
Just boots filled with sand,
On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land.
With medals and badges,
Awards of all kinds,
A somber thought came to 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 solider 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,
A 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 solider rolled over and drifted to sleep,
I could not control,
I continued to weep.
I kept watch for hours,
So silent and still,
We both shivered the cold night’s chill.
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.
I found this in a very small newspaper published in a town
few have ever heard of with the following added by the editor:
This poem was written by a Marine
stationed in Okinawa Japan . The following is his request; I think it is
reasonable….
“PLEASE…would you do me the favor of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas is coming soon and some credit it due.”
To this I add the following request, if my readers think it
wise, this Christmas as you gather w/ family and friend, set an empty place at
your table to represent all those who are away from their families and friends
protecting us. The news catching wars
may be over or winding down, but as of Dec. 2012, official US Dept of Defense
documents listed over 172,000 men and women standing guard over us in foreign
lands, not counting the troops deployed in Iraq
and Afghanistan . [1]
So this Christmas, please remember these unsung men and
women, far from home this Christmas.
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