The NIght Before Christmas (Full Version)

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GreedyTop -> The NIght Before Christmas (12/13/2010 10:36:16 PM)

I'm sure this has been posted before.. but it can stand to be reposted each year.


The Night Before Christmas

              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 the 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, an American 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 peace keeping soldier stationed
              overseas. The following is his request, I think it is reasonable.




Kirata -> RE: The NIght Before Christmas (12/14/2010 2:58:18 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: GreedyTop

This poem was written by a peace keeping soldier stationed
overseas. The following is his request, I think it is reasonable.

Did something get cut off? What was his request?

K.




sunshinemiss -> RE: The NIght Before Christmas (12/14/2010 3:22:43 AM)

I found this on snopes.com
http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/soldier.asp

The request of the soldier according to snopes is "Please.  Would you do me a thoughtful favor of sending this poem to as many people as you can?  Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our US service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities."




GreedyTop -> RE: The NIght Before Christmas (12/14/2010 4:25:08 AM)

Thanks, Sunny..




sirsholly -> RE: The NIght Before Christmas (12/14/2010 4:31:06 AM)

it took my breath away....

thanks so much for posting!![image]http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/sadhugsmiley.gif[/image]




GreedyTop -> RE: The NIght Before Christmas (12/14/2010 4:34:03 AM)

~FR~

dammit, Holly.. I wish you'd answer your friggin phone!!




tiggerspoohbear -> RE: The NIght Before Christmas (12/14/2010 6:32:28 AM)

Thank you Greedy, that was heart wrenching and beautiful at the same time. I't something I'll be saving, it's so worth it and appropriate in this day and age, or for that matter, at any time.




subinlife -> RE: The NIght Before Christmas (12/14/2010 8:04:12 AM)

GreedyTop, Thank you so much for posting this.
 
As someone who has many family members who have served (including myself) it is very special.
I will save it and pass it along to my family.
Knowing that they will identify with the poem.
 
Again thank you.




maybemaybenot -> RE: The NIght Before Christmas (12/14/2010 9:36:25 AM)

Greedy :
Thanx for sharing that beautiful poem. I'm going to save that one too, right after I forward it to my friends.

                                    mbmbn




tiggerspoohbear -> RE: The NIght Before Christmas (12/15/2010 1:09:55 AM)

Yanno, this thread was intended to bring peace to those who are in the service, were, or family members who have to deal with their loved ones being far from home and in extremely dangerous situations at times.

I just wish the bickering back and forth would stop and those who don't agree with it not post. You're certainly entitled to your opinion but you don't have to express it on this thread. Start another one where you can fight with each other all you want.

Greedy, I'm sorry your original message was forgotten and love it. I've saved it and e-mailed it to friends, it touched me so much.

Now it's just after 4am, I'm still half-asleep but can't we agree to disagree somewhere else where the real message won't get lost. That the people who serve our countries in troubled places did not ask to be sent there. They do a necessary but ugly job that many of us could never accomplish.

Chantal




YoungBlondeSlave -> RE: The NIght Before Christmas (12/15/2010 11:44:24 AM)

That was a beautiful posting, i've never seen it before. Thank you for sharing. i'm now e-mailing it to friends and family.




LadyPact -> RE: The NIght Before Christmas (12/15/2010 4:19:44 PM)

Greedy, thanks for posting this.  It's been around a few years and it always reminds Me of the reason I have loved ones away from home for the holidays.

Aynne, if I'm ever in your neck of the woods, the first martini is on Me.




Zevar -> RE: The NIght Before Christmas (12/15/2010 9:29:25 PM)

Greetings GreedyTop:

Thank you for this version of “The night before Christmas”. I appreciated it greatly.

Take the best care of you! [;)]




GreedyTop -> RE: The NIght Before Christmas (12/15/2010 10:16:54 PM)

I'm glad that so many appreciated this.

RF.. I agree, to a certain extent, with your critique of the poem.. it's certainly not Maya Angelou!  BUT.. the sentiments I think are shared by anyone who has ever had a loved one serve in the armed forces.




ModTwentyOne -> RE: The NIght Before Christmas (12/18/2010 11:05:43 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: tiggerspoohbear

Yanno, this thread was intended to bring peace to those who are in the service, were, or family members who have to deal with their loved ones being far from home and in extremely dangerous situations at times.

I just wish the bickering back and forth would stop and those who don't agree with it not post. You're certainly entitled to your opinion but you don't have to express it on this thread. Start another one where you can fight with each other all you want.



Thank you, tiggerspoohbear, for saving me the typing.

If you want to debate war, start your own thread. If someone tries to derail a thread with an off-topic post, please report it instead of contributing to the derailment. If you have any questions, feel free to write to me off the boards. If your post was removed and you do not understand why (which is not the same as trying to debate the reason it was removed), feel free to write to me off the boards.

ModTwentyOne




Kirata -> RE: The NIght Before Christmas (12/18/2010 1:36:43 PM)

Ahhh... at last [sm=applause.gif]

Thanks 21. Merry Ho Ho Ho, etc.

K.




JstAnotherSub -> RE: The NIght Before Christmas (12/18/2010 2:31:17 PM)

Thanks again for sharing this Greedy.....and thanks to 21 for, well, doing what 21 does!




Termyn8or -> RE: The NIght Before Christmas (12/18/2010 2:45:20 PM)

FR

I see my reponse to the bickering has been removed. That's fine with me.

That is nice, and I don't recall ever reading it before. No matter what anyone thinks, what they do, they do for us. I would like to show appreciation by bringing them home !

T




subinlife -> RE: The NIght Before Christmas (12/18/2010 3:35:32 PM)

Echo the thanks to Mod 21.
 
These guys and gals do what they do for all of us.
Freedom isn't cheap.
 
Thanks again GreedyTop




LadyPact -> RE: The NIght Before Christmas (12/20/2010 6:27:50 AM)

TwentyOne, thanks for cleaning up the thread.  Happy Holidays.




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