Thanks for passing this on Michael & Anne!
Jim Knox, 91 Dak
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Maskalans" <mike-lists@tepidcola.com>
To: <weird@cif.rochester.edu>; <dakota-truck@dakota-truck.net>;
<muriel@tepidcola.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2003 11:39 PM
Subject: DML: Fwd: Was the Night Before Christmas
>
> I imagine many of you on the DML were a part of the original list Chris
> sent this to, but I thought as this Veteran's/ Remembrance Day comes to
> a close it was worth passing along for those of you who'd missed it.
> Regardless of whether the credit is accurate, the sentiment is real.
> and again, to any servicemen, past present and future: thank you.
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> > From: <chris@dakotausa.com>
> >
> >
> > 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,
> > 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. 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
> >
> --
> Michael Maskalans <http://mike.tepidcola.com/>
> ClassTech Consultant - ITS Printer Tech - ITS Lab Tech
> mobile.612.618.4652 campus.585.274.2246 fax.954.697.0487
>
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