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Thread: To those who've served in the military

  1. #1
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    To those who've served in the military

    I'm not a big fan of chain letters so I've removed the "please forward this" bit. I don't know if this actually was written by "a British Peacekeeping soldier stationed Overseas", but I like the sentiments and it's worth a moment to think on them.

    ""Because they stand on a wall, and they say ‘nothing is going to hurt you tonight, not on my watch'." - LTC Jo Galloway, A Few Good Men

    >>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 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 BRITISH 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 HONOUR, SO WILLING TO FIGHT.
    >>
    >> THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER, WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
    >> WHISPERED, CARRY ON SANTA, ITS 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."

  2. #2
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    Re: To those who've served in the military

    Quote Originally Posted by Ghost View Post
    (A LOT OF STUFF SNIPPED}
    I don't read stuff ALL IN BLOCK CAPITALS because it's generally illiterate.

    (NB not aimed at Ghost, particularly)

  3. #3
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    Re: To those who've served in the military

    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 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 British 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 honour, so willing to fight.

    Then the soldier rolled over, with a voice soft and pure,
    Whispered, carry on Santa, its 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."

  4. #4
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    Re: To those who've served in the military

    Quote Originally Posted by Ghost View Post
    (snip stuff in proper type)
    Touché.

  5. #5
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    Re: To those who've served in the military

    From a military brat... *sniff*

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