To those who aren't home for the holidays

[Jim Phaserman 0]

Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,

In a one bedroom house made of plaster & 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 the fire, just boots filled with sand,

On the wall hung pictures of far distant lands.

 

With medals and badges, awards of all kind

A sober thought came through my mind.

For this house was different, so dark and dreary,

I knew I had found the home of a soldier, once I could see clearly.

 

I heard stories about them, I had to see more

So I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.

And there he lay sleeping silent alone,

Curled up on the floor in his one bedroom home.

 

His face so gentle, his room in such disorder,

Not how I pictured a United States soldier.

Was this the hero of whom I’d just read?

Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?

 

His head was clean shaven, his weathered face tan,

I soon understood this was more than a man.

For I realized the families that I saw that night

Owed their lives to these men who were willing to fight.

 

Soon ‘round the world, the children would play,

And grownups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.

They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year,

Because of soldiers like this one lying here.

 

I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone

On a cold Christmas Eve in a land far from home.

Just 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."

 

With that he rolled over and drifted off into sleep,

I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep.

I watched him for hours, so silent and still,

I noticed he shivered from the cold night’s chill.

 

So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,

And I covered this Soldier from his toes to his head.

And I put on his T-shirt of gray and black,

With an eagle and an Army patch embroidered on back.

 

And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride,

And for a shining moment, I was United States Army deep inside.

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, whispered with a voice so clean and pure,

"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!

[Odie 0]

Twas the night before Christmas, the ship was out steaming,

Sailors stood watch while others were dreaming.

They lived in a crowd with racks tight and small,

In a 47 man berthing, cramped one and all.

 

I had come down the ladder with present to give,

And to see inside just who might perhaps live.

I looked all about, a strange sight did I see,

No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.

 

No stockings were hung, shined boots close at hand,

On the bulkhead hung pictures of a far distant land.

They had medals and badges and awards of all kind,

And a sober thought came into my mind.

 

For this place was different, so dark and so dreary,

I had found a home of a Sailor, once I saw clearly.

A sailor lay sleeping, silent and alone,

Curled up in a rack and dreaming of home.

 

The face was so gentle, the berthing squared away,

This was the United States Sailor today.

This was the hero I saw on TV,

Defending out country so we could be free.

 

I realized the families that I would visit this night,

Owed their lives to these Sailors lay willing to fight.

Soon round the world, the children would play,

And grown-ups would celebrate on Christmas day.

 

They all enjoyed freedom each day of the year,

Because of the Sailor, like the one lying here.

I couldn't help wonder how many lay alone,

On a cold Christmas Eve, at sea, far from home.

 

The very thought brought a tear to my eye,

I dropped to my knees and started to cry.

The Sailor awakened and I heard a calm voice,

"Santa, don't cry, this life is my choice."

 

"Defending the sea all days of the year,

So others may live and be free with no fear."

I thought for a moment, what a difficult road,

To live a life guided by honor and code.

 

After all it's Christmas Eve and the ship's underway!

But freedom isn't free and it's Sailors who pay.

The Sailor say's to our country "be free and sleep tight.

No harm will come, not on my watch and not on this night."

 

The Sailor rolled over and drifted to sleep,

I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.

I kept watch for hours, so silent ,so still,

I watched as the Sailor shivered from the night's cold chill.

 

I didn't want to leave on that cold dark night,

This guardian on honor so willing to fight.

The Sailor rolled over and with a voice strong and sure,

Commanded, "Carry on Santa, it's Christmas, and All is Secure!"

[Jim Phaserman 0]

Odie, I am sure you, like myself, have an easy time relating to this. Every time I read it, it brings a tear to my eyes.

Edited December 25, 2004 by Lieutenant JG Jim Phaserman

[Odie 0]

Yeah, everytime I read one it brings a tear to my eyes.

Edited December 25, 2004 by Odie