Christmas Poem

      '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."

      Army/ Air Force /Marines /Navy/ Coast Guard