-----Original Message-----
From: Hampson, Donna
Sent: Friday, December 08, 2000 1:31 PM
To: Dadoly, Kevin; LeBlanc, Ann; McGrath, Peggy; Selver, Mary; Becker,
Laura; Kennedy, Paula; Sartini, Connie
Subject: FW: A Thoughtful Poem
-----Original Message-----
From: Case, Eloise
Sent: Friday, December 08, 2000 8:42 AM
To: Jackie Peterson; Linda Hamelin; Donna Hampson
Subject: FW: A Thoughtful Poem
>
> >> > > > '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.
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.
>
>