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SPIRITUAL
WARRIOR
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Bill
McDonald - Editor Issue Number 8 - December 2000 |
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Twas
The Night Before Christmas
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I have been sent several requests and
copies of this veteran poem about the holidays. Eric Nelson suggested
that I run it for the newsletter this Christmas - so, by popular demand
here it is. |
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THE POEM - A
Veteran's Christmas
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T'WAS
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
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 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 SOON 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."
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The Poet's Request
This poem was written by a
Marine stationed in Okinawa Japan. The following
is his request. I think it is reasonable.....
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.
Please, do your small part to plant this small seed.
This emailed poem has been sent and forwarded
around the world for the last couple of holiday seasons - just thought
it deserved a home on the web so everyone can enjoy.
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TOMAHAWK
20001 REUNION
IN SACRAMENTO, CA
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MEMORIAL
DAY WEEKEND
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Plans are now being
made for a small reunion of former members of the 128th Assault
Helicopter Company out of Phu Loi, South Vietnam. All former members ,
family and friends are invited to come and gather at the Vietnam War
Memorial in Capitol State Park in Sacramento, California.
This takes place at
the same time as the Sacramento International Jazz Festival so there
will be plenty to do and see besides meeting old friends. More
information will be posted in feature newsletters and on this web site.
Hotels and other important travel information will follow soon.
STAY TUNED FOR
MORE.......
SONGS
OF ARMY AVIATORS
IN THE VIETNAM WAR
Don
Joce sent me this web address of a most interesting web site. It has the
makings of real history, as remembered by those of us who served in Army
aviation units in Nam. This is well worth the look and your time. Go check
out this month's featured Web Site:
www.buffalostate.edu/~fishlm/folksongs/marty.htm
A WORD FROM BILL...,
For those of us who served in Nam, life has much meaning. Each day is a
gift. Each moment is savored fully. We know how quick this life can end.
We know how fragile life is. We also know that it was not just luck that
we somehow made back alive - but a blessing. Something to be
cherished forever. We also know that no one will ever really understand
what happened there; nobody except our brother vets. There is a
knowing that needs no words to express. Veterans know what you feel. They
know what you have gone through because they went through it with you. Do
not expect your wife, or children, to ever understand your experiences. It
is not something that you would really want them to be able to experience,
because the only way they could honestly know what you and I feel, is to
have been there themselves.
So,
this holiday season begin to appreciate all that you do have; all the
blessings and gifts, that God has given us veterans. I know that God has a
special place for those of us who have served. God knows what you gave and
HE understands you like a brother.
One
who has never faced death in combat and made it out alive - could ever
feel the joy and wonder that a veteran feels each and every morning the
rest of
his living days!
Keep
the holidays holy!
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