View Full Version : A Soldier's Christmas


Amy Livin
12-02-00, 04:33 PM
This wasn't writen by me, but by Major Bruce W. Lovely. It's a very sad poem and really gets to me. I know it's not Christmas yet, but it is comming. This is for all the ones that are far away from home for the holidays.


"THE SOLDIERS NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS"
By Major Bruce W. Lovely

Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,

In a one bedroom house made of plaster & 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 the fire, just boots filled with sand,

On the wall hung pictures of far distant lands.

With medals and badges, awards of all kind

A sober thought came through my mind.

For this house was different, so dark and dreary,

I knew I had found the home of a soldier, once I could see clearly.

I heard stories about them, I had to see more

So I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.

And there he lay sleeping silent alone,

Curled up on the floor in his one bedroom home.

His face so gentle, his room in such disorder,

Not how I pictured a United States soldier.

Was this the hero of whom I’d just read?

Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?

His head was clean shaven, his weathered face tan,

I soon understood this was more than a man.

For I realized the families that I saw that night

Owed their lives to these men who were willing to fight.

Soon ‘round the world, the children would play,

And grownups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.

They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year,

Because of soldiers like this one lying here.

I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone

On a cold Christmas Eve in a land far from home.

Just 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."

With that he rolled over and drifted off into sleep,

I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep.

I watched him for hours, so silent and still,

I noticed he shivered from the cold night’s chill.

So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,

And I covered this Soldier from his toes to his head.

And I put on his T-shirt of gray and black,

With an eagle and an Army patch embroidered on back.

And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride,

And for a shining moment, I was United States Army deep inside.

I didn’t want to leave him on that cold dark night,

This guardian of honor so willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over, whispered with a voice so clean and pure,

"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!


PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as may people
as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and we should all be aware of
where credit for our being able to celebrate these festivities is due.
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.

This poem hits a very sensitive chord in my heart for Blue is in the military. Last Christmas he was away in a foreigh country, in a hospital with a bullet in his leg. This year, I am afraid I will not be able to be with him either for he will be gone to do some training and reprogramming. Hopefully, we will be together next year.




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Keep The Faith, These Days And Always ;)
Amy Livin
P.S.I Love BlueOmega!!!!!
http://http://communities.msn.ca/LivinsphotoAlbum (http://communities.msn.ca/LivinsphotoAlbum)

Amy Livin
12-15-00, 01:02 AM
I have another military poem of a prisoner of war. If you like this one you should like that one. I should be posting it up soon.

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Keep The Faith, These Days And Always ;)
Amy Livin
P.S.I Love BlueOmega!!!!!
http://http://communities.msn.ca/LivinsphotoAlbum (http://communities.msn.ca/LivinsphotoAlbum)