A Very Special Personal Christmas Message

[Al Milton]

Whether the origins of this message are true or not, the message is still the same.

 

Spare a though for our superb armed forces in foreign lands who will not be home at this time of year spending time with their loved ones

 

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 DISORDER,

 

NOT HOW I PICTURED,

 

A TRUE BRITISH SOLDIER.

 

 

 

WAS THIS THE HERO,

 

OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?

 

CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,

THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

 

 

I REALISED 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 DID NOT 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,

 

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."

 

This poem was written by a Peacekeeping soldier stationed overseas. The following is his request. I think it is reasonable

 

 

PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favour of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to all of the 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. Please, do your small part to plant this small seed.

[Guest rich44]

What more could be said after Reading that apart thank you for keeping us safe and good luck to all our service man and woman and that they a have a safe Christmas

Edited December 21, 2010 by richard 44

[Guest peter2b2002]

brought a tear to my eye

peter2b

[fry61]

And no doubt a similar poem by similar soldiers in a different tongue on the other side. I greatly admire anyone who willingly stands in harms way;but wish our horrible excellence at inventing & building bigger & better? ways of destroying each other did not exist. Peace on earth? not while we have hold of the reins. Goodwill to all men, yes please; possibly on a one to one basis; but not unfortunately if you believe all the words of our so-called leaders (both sides) Do I have any answers NO unfortunately not.

[Guest Jameslark]

Truly moving and I have seen it before. All our thoughts should be with our brave service personnel who are not political nor ask why they are there - they just do what they are asked without question and unfortunately some pay the ultimate price.

 

Our personal thoughts are with the troops, their families and those so sadly bereaved. May all those serving overseas return home safe and sound before too long.