redelk
Moderator
Please... speak to the hand.
Posts: 3212
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posted December 24, 2006 09:41 PM
 Edited By: redelk on 25 Dec 2006 05:01
Soldiers, Dads, Family and Christmas
I first posted this in '02. I think it is worth reposting today.
'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,
AND ON THE WALL, PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBERING THOUGHT CAME TO MY MIND.
FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, SO DARK AND SO DREARY,
THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, NOW 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 SOON 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 EVENING'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."
I was too young for Viet Nam and too old for the Gulf.
Yet, when I awoke this morning, I remembered those that have in the past and are currently spending their Christmas far away from their loved ones and sacrificing it all... just so I can hear they joyful screams of my grand daughter, as she opened her presents.
While I will always keep the men and women who are serving our great nation in my prayers, I also wish to thank each and every one of them for giving me the opportunity to enjoy one of life's greatest pleasures... FREEDOM.
May God bless and look over each and every one of you.
Thank you.
............................................................................................................
I first posted this in '03 and also feel it is worth reposting.
The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
my daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree, I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep
in perfect contentment, or so it would seem.
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eye when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
and I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old
Perhaps a Marine Man, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts,
to the window that danced with a warm fire's light
then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
"I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night"
"Its my duty to stand at the front of the line,
that separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me."
"My Gramps died at Pearl, on a day in December,"
then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers.
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam
And now it is my turn and so, here I am."
"I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile."
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red white and blue... an American flag.
"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home,
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat,
I can carry the weight of killing another
or lay down my life with my sisters and brothers
who stand at the front against any and all,
to insure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone.
To stand your own watch, no matter how long."
"For when we come home, either standing or dead,
to know you remember we fought and we bled
is payment enough, and with that we will trust.
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."
To the fine men and women who serve this great nation in both times of peace and of war... I salute you... I thank you... I pray for your safe return... and I will never forget you. God Bless.
*********************************************************************************************
This will also be the first Christmas that my WWII vet father will not be with us in the flesh. Mom has "assigned" me to take over his handing out the presents in the morning and serving the evening meal tomorrow night. It is a duty that both makes me feel honored and wanting to puke from emotions.
For the first time, almost all of my nephews and nieces will join my sisters, spouses and children (20 folks in all) to celebrate both Christmas with my mother and the spirit of my father... who we all know is with us.
Merry Christmas Dad.
____________
There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
   
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MadMike
Moderator
FEAR THE BLACK FLAG!!!!!!!!
Posts: 6579
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posted December 24, 2006 10:12 PM
God Bless and Merry Christmas to all!!
____________
200-MPH CLUB MEMBER!
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RyuNinja14
Expert Class
Posts: 142
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posted December 24, 2006 10:46 PM
Merry Christmas to our troops!
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Blitzkrieg
Needs a job
Road kill = Free lunch.
Posts: 2044
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posted December 24, 2006 11:09 PM
Amen Red. Amen.
____________
"BTW....You need to get a girlfriend who's last name isn't .jpg"
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Texas12R
Zone Head
Posts: 545
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posted December 25, 2006 05:26 AM
Thanks for reposting this Redelk, and Merry christmas.....to everyone!
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HiMile14
Expert Class
Posts: 424
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posted December 25, 2006 06:34 AM
These tears I shed, I'm not sure I understand. Sort of makes me feel like taking the ZX to airport just to applaud those who are coming home, and salute those who have not.
The world I truly believe supports the actions of the USA and the nations helping us. This is one insurance Policy we can not afford to ignore.
To Those who believe different, Please answer Honestly. No PC here.
1. Is North Korea a Threat?
2. Is Iran a Threat?
3. Is Iraq a Threat?
Could you give the same answer in 2002?
I feel confident an honest response says we are moving in the right direction.
I'm off my anti-PC highhorse.
Many Thanks to all the troops and Merry Christamas to everyone.
Rob
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kawabusakid
Expert Class
Fast as my $$ will take me
Posts: 292
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posted December 25, 2006 07:06 AM
Merry Christmas and GOD bless our troops!!.....We never take for granite the freedom you provide....Thank you
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bigdtd
Needs a job
Interceptors
Posts: 4209
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posted December 25, 2006 08:18 AM
"The world I truly believe supports the actions of the USA and the nations helping us. This is one insurance Policy we can not afford to ignore. "
If the world doesn't support us, it should. Well put HiMile!
God Bless the troops and our country.
____________
2006 Black ZX-14,6 inches over,16/42, flies out,BMC Street Filter,Brock's Street Meg,Brock's Radial Mount Strap,PClll with Race map,Dynojet LCD w/Techmount, ZX-14 fender eliminator,Pilot Power2CTs,Speedohealer,Pazzo Levers,Cox Radiator Guard, Garmin Nuvi 265WT
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21894
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posted December 25, 2006 12:25 PM
Here's to HDL... Merry Christmas and stay safe!
____________
What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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morrisb8604
Novice Class
Posts: 46
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posted February 16, 2007 08:20 AM
Hey red, i just wanted to say that you're a heck of a man. I'm currently serving in iraq for OIF 6 and once i'm done with this tour i should be home by OCT 1st of this year. I'm really proud to say that i'm serving my country, but to be able to have you and the other suppoters that stand behind us fellow soldiers it really take a toll of our hearts mind and souls. Thanks again for the great read there, it really touched. spc morris brandon e.
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morrisb8604
Novice Class
Posts: 46
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posted February 16, 2007 08:25 AM
lol also how do i get this parking attendant off the thing by my name, the comments would be highly appreciated because it's really really gay.
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redelk
Moderator
Please... speak to the hand.
Posts: 3212
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posted February 16, 2007 11:53 AM
Sir, I must sadly inform you that you are required to submit additional posts on the various forums of this site before you can advance. In other words, it's something 50 or 100 posts before the gay "moniker" goes away. Not sure if it's "novice" or if you move "straight" (pun intended) up to "expert".
On a serious note, thank you very much.
I kinda don't know what to say (which is EXTREMELY RARE, for me). The only other thing I can think of is....
keep your head down, while your there...
kick some major ass...
all of you are greatly missed, back here...
come home soon and safe...
and when you do, hold your head high.
Thank you, again.
Sherman "redelk" McCoy
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blitzkrieg
Needs a job
Road kill = Free lunch.
Posts: 2044
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posted February 16, 2007 03:26 PM
Morris,
My son is a Marine who is currently serving in Al haqlaniyah. His tour will be up in one month. It's his second, the first was Afghanistan.
Needless to say his mother and I are counting the minutes.
Be safe brother. My thoughts and prayers are with you and all of our armed services troops.
Trust me, most Americans have our armed forces in our thoughts and prayers on a daily basis.
____________
"BTW....You need to get a girlfriend who's last name isn't .jpg"
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morrisb8604
Novice Class
Posts: 46
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posted February 16, 2007 05:52 PM
i want to thank you two gentleman for replyin these posts, my soft cap and kevlar is off to you two gentleman and to your son, maby god have swift movements by your son's side so that no harm comes to him, because i know he has done so for me. Yall are the coolest.
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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted February 16, 2007 09:20 PM
+1 to all
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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