Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Soldiers Christmas.

‘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 dwelling did live.
I looked all around, a strange sight to see,
No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stockings on the mantle, just boots filled with sand,
On the wall hung pictures of far distant lands.
With medals and badges, awards of every kind,
A sobering thought came alive in my mind.
For this house was different; it was dark and dreary,
It was the home of a soldier, I could see that most clearly.
The soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor in this one bedroom home.
His face was so gentle, the room in such disorder,
Not at all 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?
Then I realized the families that I saw this night,
Owed their lives to soldiers who were willing to fight.
In the morning ’round the world, children would play,
And grown-ups would celebrate a bright Christmas day.
But they all enjoyed freedom each month of the year,
Because of the soldiers, like the one lying here.
I couldn’t help but wonder how many lay alone,
On a cold Christmas Eve in lands far from home.
The very thought brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to one knee and started to cry.
The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice,
“Santa don’t cry, for 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,
But I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep.
I kept watch for hours, so silent and still,
As both of us shivered from the cold night’s chill.
I didn’t want to leave him, on that cold, dark night,
This guardian of honor, so willing to fight.
Then the soldier rolled over, with a voice soft and pure,
he 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 … may God bless you this night.

  “Merry Christmas, My Friend” was written by a marine,
 Lance Corporal James M. Schmidt in 1986 

Merry Christmas my friends, God bless and have a happy new year.

9 comments:

  1. Duke...I never grow tired of reading this no matter hoe many times I see it.

    May you and your family have a very blessed Merry Christmas!

    Mamma Bear, Papa Bear and The Marine

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  2. Mamma Bear, God bless my friend. Merry Christmas

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  3. Have a wonderful Christmas day my friend...see you soon.

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  4. Stephen, Thank you. Merry Christmas, one day I want to spend Christmas day cooking out and shooting at the range.

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  5. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

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  6. Murphy, Merry Christmas my friend.

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  7. Merry Christmas, Duke - I pray it's the best one yet!

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  8. Duke,

    Merry Christmas My Friend To You and Yours.

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