A Soldiers Christmas Poem

[Digitalis]

A SOLDIERS 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 "Its really all right,

I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night.

Sleep without fear as you turn out your lights."

"It's my duty to stand at the front of this line,

That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one has asked or begged or implored 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

remembered."

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 some money, 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 Share with your friends that Care!

Mo sent this to me, she is a doll. My own 20 year old son is staying at someone elses home this Christmas Eve and lo and behold this brought tears to swell in my eyes tears of joy so you can see me cry.

Digi

[Kit Sober]

From a friend, this came:

“I’ll be home for Christmas…if only in my dreams.”

These are the words of an old Christmas song that take us to each of the brave men and women serving in our military around the world. Our hearts and prayers are with you and with your families at Christmas and always. We owe you a great daily debt of gratitude and praise. This year the Chavda family Christmas tree is decorated with the faces of our fighting men and women stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Between snowmen, twinkling lights, and candles of red, white, and blue, your faces look back at us as shining sentinel reminders of our greatest gifts. Few and brave, you are always faithful, always ready. Few and proud, gung-ho, there is just one over all. Duty, honor, country, this is what you defend. No one comes close to the example you serve. For you as we gather around the Christmas tree our hearts are full of gratitude, our prayers ever vigilant. You are with us and we are with you, faithful to your stolid unrelenting courage, commitment, and sacrifice.

Here's health to you and to our Corps,

We are so proud you serve.

In every strife you fight for life so

Never lose your nerve.

Always ready for the call,

We trust in God to keep thee,

Through howling gale and shot and shell,

And bring you home in vict’ry.

We count you brave,

We count you true,

Let vicious foe steer shy.

You’re first to fight for all that’s Right,

So never change your course,

Till we meet once more, the battle o’er

We are proud of all you’ve done.

With Christmas prayers we watch the door

And wish you each a happy voyage home!

. . .

He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself. -- Thomas Paine

Our prayers also are with those who are fighting for Freedom's cause, military soldiers and the soldiers of the Lord who keep ever diligent to hold forth Christ's love.

Merry Christmas,

Fred and Kit Sober

Reno NV

[excathedra]

thank you