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[Bagger]

                      T'WAS 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.


                      I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,

                      A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,

                      NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,

                       NOT EVEN A TREE.


                       NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,

                       JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,

                       ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES

                       OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.


                       WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,

                       AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,

                       A SOBER THOUGHT

                       CAME THROUGH MY MIND.


                       FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,

                       IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,

                       I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,

                       ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.


                       THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,

                       SILENT, ALONE,

                       CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR

                       IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.


                       THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,

                       THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,

                       NOT 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?


                       I REALIZED THE FAMILIES

                       THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,

                       OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS

                       WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.


                       SOON ROUND THE WORLD,

                       THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,

                       AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE

                       A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.


                       THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM

                       EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,

                       BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,

                       LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.


                       I COULDN'T HELP WONDER

                       HOW MANY LAY ALONE,

                       ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE

                       IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.


                       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.


                       THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER

                       AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP.

                       I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,

                       I CONTINUED TO WEEP.


                       I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,

                       SO SILENT AND STILL

                       AND WE BOTH SHIVERED

                       FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.


                      I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE

                      ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,

                      THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR

                      SO WILLING TO FIGHT.


                      THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,

                      WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,

                      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,

                      AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.

          GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR U.S. SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN  !!

[ccr]

 [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]  That was just great, thanks so much for posting.  

[Hoist!]

Awesome post Bagger! [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif] Nobody could'a said that better than Ole St. Nick himself! Happy Holidays to you and the family; and to all out there defending our freedom! [smiley=drink.gif] Get home safe. Hoist!  8-)

[Fired00d]

.....

          GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR U.S. SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN  !!

Amen!!! I'd like to add keep them safe until they can return home to their family, friends, and loved ones.

Semper Fi

 [smiley=pumpkin.gif]
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 [smiley=fireman.gif]

[CVOMOE!!]

Excellent post and the timing is perfect.  All the best to all the troops serving and to all the vets.

Moe [smiley=banana.gif]

[HWYMAN1]

for all interested here is the website where this came from:http://mrmom.amaonline.com/asoldierschristmas.htm
Merry Christmas safe return!

[Hoist!]

for all interested here is the website where this came from:http://mrmom.amaonline.com/asoldierschristmas.htm
Merry Christmas safe return!

Thanks Otophile. That was really great. Here's a soldier's suggestion from it:

We tend to fly our flag on 4th of July, we tend to fly our flag on Veteran's Day......maybe this year, through your web-site, you could maybe "ask" the American people to put a small American Flag on their Christmas Tree, amongst their ornaments, (or within their own religious ceremony/custom) just to "remember." A small reminder that "we" are free to celebrate whatever holiday, however we please, because of that flag and what She represents.

I proudly fly my flag around the clock (properly lit in the evening, of course) on a 20' pole on my front lawn. Always!

All the poems and soldiers thoughts were striking, and these concepts are what makes me so proud to be American! [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif] Hoist!  8-)

[Bagger]

for all interested here is the website where this came from:http://mrmom.amaonline.com/asoldierschristmas.htm
Merry Christmas safe return!

Actually, it came to me via Government email, and I chose to share it with my CVO Family.  For a brief, fleeting moment I sensed an integrity challenge...........But that is neither here nor there as far as I'm concerned.  Having been a Soldier for 21+ years, and having served my Country in combat, my prevailing thought then, now, and forevermore is the Soldier.......for there is none more selfless!

Merry Christmas CVO Family!

[ccr]

Thanks Otophile. That was really great. Here's a soldier's suggestion from it:

We tend to fly our flag on 4th of July, we tend to fly our flag on Veteran's Day......maybe this year, through your web-site, you could maybe "ask" the American people to put a small American Flag on their Christmas Tree, amongst their ornaments, (or within their own religious ceremony/custom) just to "remember." A small reminder that "we" are free to celebrate whatever holiday, however we please, because of that flag and what She represents.,,, [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif] Hoist!  8-)

Hoist, Great Idea, just grabbed one and put it on the tree.  We are both very proud Americans, my husband is still serving ====== US Army!  

[HWYMAN1]

Actually, it came to me via Government email, and I chose to share it with my CVO Family.  For a brief, fleeting moment I sensed an integrity challenge...........But that is neither here nor there as far as I'm concerned.  Having been a Soldier for 21+ years, and having served my Country in combat, my prevailing thought then, now, and forevermore is the Soldier.......for there is none more selfless!

Merry Christmas CVO Family!

If the reference was to me in regards to challenging your integrity you are off base. I to served, was in Gulf War. My  point was to show therre were other stories than just the one you shared.
There is also a C/W song that has put this to music but I can't find the music thread to post. So if I stepped on someone's toes i apologize it was not my intent.  John PS I just ordered a new flag because of this from Gettysbury flag company in Texas.

[hard10]

Hoist! For you: http://flhrsei.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?num=1133920167/352#352

[Hoist!]

Hoist! For you: http://flhrsei.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?num=1133920167/352#352

Thanks AJ. I put one over there for d00d's magic! Happy Holidays man! [smiley=drink.gif] Hoist!  8-)