> 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 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. Cause people to stop and think of our heroes, living and

> dead, who sacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your small part to

> plant this small seed.

>

> May God Bless You and Have A Great Day

>

>

>