December 13, 2009 6:18 PM
At Christmas: Thank you to our military
A Different Kind of 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 "It's 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, whenever you see a member of Armed Forces, tell them thank you. If you see them in a restaurant, buy them a meal. At church, light candles for them. If you know a family whose father or mother are away from home at Christmas, takethem under your wing.
We can never thank them enough!
Posted in Christmas, Military matters | Permalink
Comments
I heard this on the radio a few days ago. Very moving.
In the same vein, I wanted to tell you about a book tht one of my friends mom's co-wrote. It's calld "A Soldier's Night Before Christmas" by Christi Ford.
Basically, Sgt. McClause comes to a base in the middle east to cheer soldiers who are missing their families. One of the soldiers called by name is my friend Specialist (Now Sgt.) Ford. He just started a tour in Afghanistan but the book was written during his first tour of Irag.
Anyway, I thought you might be interested. The only thing negative I've heard about it is that Sgt. McClause has a cigar at one point. I don't know if this bothers you, but I thought I'd mention it just in case.
Posted by: Lauren | December 14, 2009 10:53 AM
I received this book from my daughters' special ed teacher. Very thoughtful. It made me cry. I do have to say that the illustrations are very nice and I love the poem. I actually just posted it on my blog.
*blush* okay so it's a little plug too. But let it be known that my DH is over there.
Bring'em home!
Posted by: susanna | December 21, 2009 12:37 PM
