Fwd: Fw: A Letter From Santa...

[Guest guest]

Hi friends,

Thought you'd enjoy this. Happy holidays, Vicki

A Letter From Santa...> 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,> 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 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 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 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.">> This poem was written by a Marine stationed in Okinawa Japan. Thefollowing> is his request.> I think it is reasonable..... Would you do me the kind favor of sendingthis> 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.> Please, do your small part to plant this small seed.>> W: A Letter From Santa>>