An American Soldier’s Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed 'round the room and I cherished the sight.

My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.

In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
As I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.

Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know.
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.

Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out there!

Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment, I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts,
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light.

Then he sighed and he said, "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."

"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
that separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask me, or beg or implore,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before.

My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers.

"My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam,'
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.

I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my wife and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.

I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.

Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?

It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being far away from your wife and your son."

Then in his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and you’ll never forget.

To fight for our rights back at home, while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.

It is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.

This poem, received from an internet acquaintance, is attributed to:

LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq

Red State Patriot:

The holiday season is already upon us and some considerable credit is due to our U.S. servicemen and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let's try to return some small measure of what we owe to America’s finest – our nation’s defenders. Let’s you and I, and every true American, make a point to pause on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, during our family celebrations, to consciously stop what we are doing, if only for a moment, and openly express our gratitude to our American heroes, not only to those on active duty, but our veterans and our dead. With our undying respect and our prayers, Americans across our magnificent nation can proudly give tribute to these patriots, many of whom have unselfishly gone before. Also, throughout the holiday season, try to find a time and a place in your heart to thank any serviceman or woman you meet in public. By their uniform, they are proudly saying that they are unselfishly willing to risk everything for the rest of us. Remember also the nation's first responders who do their best to protect each of us from our own mistakes in judgment, physical accidents and medical misfortunes. We have a great many fine American men and women to be thankful for this holiday season.

Posted November 16, 2006 02:36 PM
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