> > > > 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,
> > > > >
> > > > > So 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, my
> wife and my child.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > "What are you doing?" I asked
> without fear,
> > > > >
> > > > > "Come in this moment, it's
> freezing out here!
>
> > > > > 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
> "It's 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 or beg or
> implore me,
> > > > >
> > > > I'm proud to stand here like
> my fathers
> before me.
> > > > >
> > > > >
>
> 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 house
> 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 away from your wife
> and your son."
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Then his eye welled a tear
> that held no
> regret,
> > > > >
> > > > > "Just tell us you love us, and
> 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.
> > > > >
> > > > > Is payment enough, and with
> that we will
> trust,
> > > > >
> > > > > That we mattered to you as you
> mattered to
> us."
> > >
> 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.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
> > > > > 30th Naval Construction
> Regiment
> > > > > OIC, Logistics Cell One
> > > > > Al Taqqadum , Iraq.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > GOD BLESS
> AMERICA