Lest We Forget...

[Chivas Regal]

The Soldier
>
> 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 CANADIAN 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 Peace keeping soldier stationed overseas.
>
> 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 Canadian
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.
>

 

[Ranger68]

Not to dissuade people from the message, but this was written by Corporal James M. Schmidt, a US Marine. The words have been altered appropriately. (The real clue is "My God, my country, my Corps" - the *Marine* Corps.)

There really is no need to alter the original or attribute it erroneously to someone else - to do so does a great disservice to the author. The message remains the same. Should you forward it, please use the one below:

~~~~~

Merry Christmas, My Friend

Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,
In a one bedroom house made of plaster & stone.

I had come down the chimney, with presents to give
and to see just who in this home did live

As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,
no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand.
On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land.

With medals and badges, awards of all kind,
a sobering thought soon came to my mind.
For this house was different, unlike any I'd seen.
This was the home of a U.S. Marine.

I'd heard stories about them, I had to see more,
so I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.
And there he lay sleeping, silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor in his one-bedroom home.

He seemed so gentle, his face so serene,
Not how I pictured a U.S. Marine.
Was this the hero, of whom I’d just read?
Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?

His head was clean-shaven, his weathered face tan.
I soon understood, this was more than a man.
For I realized the families that I saw that night,
owed their lives to these men, who were willing to fight.

Soon around the Nation, the children would play,
And grown-ups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.
They all enjoyed freedom, each month and all year,
because of Marines like this one lying here.

I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home.
Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye.
I dropped to my knees and I started to cry.

He must have awoken, for 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."

With that he rolled over, drifted off into sleep,
I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.

I watched him for hours, so silent and still.
I noticed he shivered from the cold night's chill.
So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,
and covered this Marine from his toes to his head.
Then I put on his T-shirt of scarlet and gold,
with an eagle, globe and anchor emblazoned so bold.
And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride,
and for one shining moment, I was Marine Corps deep inside.

I didn't want to leave him so quiet in the night,
this guardian of honor so willing to fight.
But half asleep he rolled over, and in a voice clean and pure,
said "Carry on, Santa, it's Christmas Day, all secure."
One look at my watch and I knew he was right,
Merry Christmas my friend, Semper Fi and goodnight.

~~~~~

And please observe Remembrance Day. Two minutes out of the year.

 

[slowandeasy]

Honor our veterans and our country

Remembering the people who have died in while fighting for this country should be something ingrained in our Cdn fabric. This is one of the best countries in the world for so many good reasons.

I believe that living in Canada is an honour and a priviledge. Everytime I see an older person, I always wonder if they fought in the war. I have never had to go to war thanks to our veterans. I pray that my children will not have to go to war as well.

Write a letter to your MP requesting that this very special day be recognized as a national holiday...

 

[Chivas Regal]

Amen.

Chivas Regal

 

[Ranger68]

Hear hear.

 

[impala77]

Response to In flander's fields

Oh! sleep in peace where poppies grow;
The torch your falling hands let go
Was caught by us, again held high,
A beacon light in Flanders sky
That dims the stars to those below.
You are our dead, you held the foe,
And ere the poppies cease to blow,
We'll prove our faith in you who lie
In Flanders Fields.
Oh! rest in peace, we quickly go
To you who bravely died, and know
In other fields was heard the cry,
For freedom's cause, of you who lie,
So still asleep where poppies grow,
In Flanders Fields.

As in rumbling sound, to and fro,
The lightning flashes, sky aglow,
The mighty hosts appear, and high
Above the din of battle cry,
Scarce heard amidst the guns below,
Are fearless hearts who fight the foe,
And guard the place where poppies grow.
Oh! sleep in peace, all you who lie
In Flanders Fields.


And still the poppies gently blow,
Between the crosses, row on row.
The larks, still bravely soaring high,
Are singing now their lullaby
To you who sleep where poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.


- John Mitchell

 

[papasmerf]

To all who have served and the familes of those who have fallen the nations salute you and wish all service men and women safe return.

 

[Shades]

At the Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month I found myself riding in a East End Taxi.
Right at 11 sharp the dispatcher cut across the radio banter and said...."Okay everybody, let's have 2 minutes of silence to remember those who have suffered and sacrificed in war."
The radio went dead, the cabby and I rode along in two minutes of silence.
At the end of that time the dispatcher was back on, said thank you and the radio chatter began once again.
I was delightfully surprised by this. I'm sure there were many companies that made no effort to observe this small rememberance but here was a taxi company that put their business on hold for two minutes.

 

[langeweile]

Thanks................. DQ

 

[pool]

twas the night

 

[johnhenrygalt]

Re: Honor our veterans and our country

Write a letter to your MP requesting that this very special day be recognized as a national holiday...

Rather you should write a letter to your provincial MPP to make it a holiday. Except as it relates to the federal civil service and sectors subject to federal labour legislation (airlines, Canada Post, telecommunications), holidays are a matter of provincial jurisdiction, and each province chooses it's own holidays. November 11 is already a public holiday in provinces like Alberta. It is not a holiday in Ontario or Quebec. If you want action on this issue, it is to your provincial politicians that you must address yourselves. Ottawa doesn't have the constitutional power to decree a national holiday. In fact, even July 1 is only a "national" holiday because all ten provincial legislative assemblies have made it so.