Fw: 'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

["GESA BRINKS" <gesaeqfx@pe.net>]

Think about this, take the time to read it completely

>
> >> > '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.  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.
> >
> >
> 
>
>