OT:Jim: Hope you don't mind. Today is the day for something like this.
>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.
> > > > >
> > > > >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."
> > > > >
> > > > >This poem was written by a Marine stationed in Okinawa Japan.
Merry Chistmas To All from me.
