LOVE YOUR COUNTRY.. LOVE THE SOLDIERS.. RESPECT THE LIVES.
This was sent to me in an email..Really made me tear up.

To all of thost who respect our COUNTRY... Please send prayers to my friends fighting for lives.

A Different Christmas Poem

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 eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite k now,

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, 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.'

'It's 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 sister and brother..

Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure 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.'


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.

1) SPC Mullenix, Robert Iraq Xmas 2006 Xmas 2007
2)Rich Nessling I'll see you soon! Keep safe and I'll always keep my own watch.

Well, I'm glad that I am proud to be an AMERICAN!!!!!!!!!

very nice..i sure will have this in my bulletin

Being a Vet It brought a tear. If we agree or disagree with what is going on in the world today let us not forget the ones on the front lines.My thoughts and prayers are with them and there families. GOD bless them and Godspeed

wow...wow what a write...truely amazing

OMG! Beautifully written and oh so true! God Bless them all.

So beautiful..

Our soldiers deserve our prayers and thanks alway's..

God bless you, and stay safe

That was beautiful...my dad served in the Air Force for 21 years and he was dedicated to his uniform. He was a true patriot. I salute you and all the soldiers who deserve our prayers for their bravery. Whether we agree or disagree of any war, no one deserves a better salute and prayer than the men who are brave enough to do their duty....so God bless them and may they come home safe to their families and friends. And what 'meaty' quoted about I am proud to be an American...the four letters of American is I CAN..and I can be proud I am one as well.

Thank you all and I hope to get more replies. Not for the sake of me.... But for the sake of OUR COUNTRY AND OUR SOLDIERS! We live the lives we do because of these great men and women. RESPECT THEM... Or as far as I'm conserned.... LEAVE!

makes me miss mine....I hope he can come home soon, but he will definately be spending Christmas there.....

Bless and keep each one of them safe....because they all have people loving them back home....