Merry Christmas my friends...

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I would be remiss in not posting this... it has made the circulations for several years now...

but especially meaningful this year...

I want to take the time to thank my wife and kids... they don't have me with them in person this year and they deserve the thanks... they sacrifice so very much too... to those that have sent me care packages... thank you so very much... I truly give thanks every time I see my name on the mail list..

AL

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."

[dave]

And to you and all with whom you serve.

[Guest muddy]

Merry Christmas Prayers for you and your commrades saftey

Muddy

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Merry Christmas Sarge

[Big T]

Merry Christmas Sarge!

Stay safe and come home and a Big Thank You for all that you guys do.

Big T

[Gatorbassman]

Hooah!!!!

[RiskKid.]

A Safe Christmas to you! Thank You!

[John J.]

Merry Christmas and thank you for all that yall do!

God bless