A Must Read...

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.>> This poem was written by a U.S. military service member>> The following is his request. I think it is reasonable.....>> PLEASE.>> Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people> as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is> due to our> U.S.service men and women for our being able to celebrate these> festivities.>> Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe.>> Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who> sacrificed themselves for us.>> Please, do your small part to plant this small seed .

Thank you and may God bless our Troops and may He bless America!

Merry Christ-mas,

David