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Whether or not a person personally agrees with a specific military action our government chooses to undertake, I feel it's important to recognize that in our military soldiers VOLUNTARILY have agreed to put their lives on the line to defend & protect their fellow Americans, and they should be honored in that action without regard to the context of the larger issue of whether or not a war is "right". Willing to fight and perhaps even die in order that others may be saved and ideals that are important to us preserved, these men and women deserve appreciation & respect from us all. Especially in light of recent events, this poem struck a chord with me so I decided to add it to my Christmas site for this year, 2001. Due to the anthrax attacks, it is no longer advisable to send mail or packages to America's soldiers. However, your thoughts can still with them, as mine are, the same as they are with the people who suffer under oppressive regimes all across the world. May all the men & women currently engaged in the battle against terrorism, whether they be agents of America or agents of a different country, or even citizen soldiers of any nation who stand up for kindness and unity in the world by providing information that helps lead to the unearthing of those with evil intentions stay safe, and be given strength & support to keep going and going, replacing hate with love and increased mutual undersanding, that finally, someday, this extraordinary battle might be won. Must peaceful coexistence of nations with differing ideologies remain a far-off dream? I hope not...for everyone's sake.
Also check out:
The Binch
(Who Couldn't Steal America's Spirit!)
and 9-11: the
Good News
Return to: Christmas
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Reading Room
'Twas the Night
Before Christmas
(A Marine version)
'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.
As 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 a far distant land.
With medals and badges,
awards of all kind,
a sobering thought soon came to my mind.
For this house was different, unlike any I'd seen.
This was the home of a U.S. Marine.
I'd 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.
He seemed so gentle, his
face so serene,
Not how I pictured a U.S. Marine.
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 around the Nation,
the children would play,
And grown-ups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.
They all enjoyed freedom, each month and all year,
because of Marines 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 I started to cry.
He must have awoken, for
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,
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 covered this Marine from his toes to his head.
Then I put on his T-shirt of scarlet and gold,
with an eagle, globe and anchor emblazoned so bold.
And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride,
and for one shining moment, I was Marine Corps deep inside.
I didn't want to leave
him so quiet in the night,
this guardian of honor so willing to fight.
But half asleep he rolled over, and in a voice clean and pure,
said "Carry on, Santa, it's Christmas Day, all secure."
One look at my watch and I knew he was right,
Merry Christmas my friend, Semper Fi and goodnight.
Written by James M. Schmidt in 1987
Not by Col. Lovely in Christmas 1993 as Internet Lore mistakenly attributes
For more info on this Urban Legend, please refer to this link http://www.snopes.com/glurge/soldier.htm
And thanks to Jim for taking the time to correct this misconception with a
letter to me, and for writing this lovely poem in the first place.