Less we forget.

[King Tut]

I was told to pass this along and hope you guys will like it. It was written by a Marine in Okinawa. Enjoy.

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'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."