Marine Christmas Poem
Merry Christmas, My Friend
By Marine Lance Corporal James M. Schmidt, 1986
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 is secure.”
One look at my watch and I knew he was right,
Merry Christmas my friend, Semper Fi and goodnight.
|
I was just considering the same thing
By: Christmas Quotes on December 19, 2011
at 3:28 pm
Valuable info. Lucky me I found your web site by accident, and I am shocked why this accident did not happened earlier! I bookmarked it.
By: Orval Serpe on December 27, 2011
at 4:32 pm
Excellent post. I was checking continuously this blog and I’m impressed! Very useful info particularly the last part 🙂 I care for such info a lot. I was looking for this particular information for a long time. Thank you and best of luck.
By: Tutaj on December 31, 2011
at 1:08 pm
I simply desired to thank you very much yet again. I am not sure the things I might have worked on without those methods revealed by you relating to this field. Certainly was a very frustrating issue in my circumstances, nevertheless noticing a new professional technique you treated it forced me to leap over fulfillment. Now i’m happier for this guidance and thus hope you are aware of a powerful job you’re providing teaching other individuals by way of your website. I am sure you’ve never got to know all of us.
By: Jamaal Carrio on January 1, 2012
at 5:27 pm
I must say, its worth it!,i’llcheck back asap,cheers
By: chocolate machine on January 11, 2012
at 1:07 pm
Simply the value of information and make a lot of viewers and followers, thank you
By: texas concierge on January 11, 2012
at 1:19 pm
Hello world I suggested an increase in the discussions and comments on matters of interests of visitors life and work , thank you
By: cones valet on January 11, 2012
at 1:19 pm
Hello world I suggested an increase in the discussions and comments on matters of interests of visitors life and work , thank you.
By: peter on January 11, 2012
at 1:39 pm
Thanks in favor of sharing such a pleasant thought, article is nice, thats why i have read it entirely
By: Alegro on January 15, 2012
at 1:50 pm
Nice Work…
It is really a nice and useful piece of info. I¡¦m happy that you just shared this useful info with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for sharing….
By: i like reading on January 16, 2012
at 4:16 pm
Why YouTube video lessons are shared everywhere? I think one cause is that these are trouble-free to get embed script and paste that script somewhere you want.
By: Catarina Geris on January 23, 2012
at 1:28 pm
What’s up friends, its wonderful paragraph regarding teachingand fully defined, keep it up all the time.
By: Rosalyn Delaguila on January 27, 2012
at 6:04 pm
It’s amazing to go to see this web site and reading the views of all colleagues regarding this paragraph, while I am also zealous of getting know-how.
By: Cleo Lacewell on January 27, 2012
at 6:06 pm
Every weekend i used to go to see this site, because i wish for enjoyment, for the reason that this this web site conations really pleasant funny material too.
By: Criselda Quirion on January 28, 2012
at 12:49 pm
Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it’s truly informative. I’m gonna watch out for brussels. I’ll be grateful if you continue this in future. A lot of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
By: Charlsie Neske on January 30, 2012
at 5:57 pm
Very nice article, just what I wanted to find.
By: Esperanza Phaneuf on March 6, 2012
at 6:50 am
I am glad for commenting to make you understand what a perfect encounter my princess enjoyed browsing your blog. She even learned such a lot of things, which included how it is like to possess a marvelous giving character to let folks without difficulty know precisely some complicated topics. You really exceeded people’s desires. Many thanks for rendering the practical, healthy, edifying not to mention easy guidance on this topic to Kate.
By: Augusta Studler on March 8, 2012
at 2:04 pm
Your home is valueble for me. Thanks!…
By: termowizja on March 9, 2012
at 12:32 pm
I simply want to mention I am beginner to weblog and actually liked you’re web site. Likely I’m going to bookmark your blog . You really come with tremendous articles. Cheers for revealing your webpage.
By: Matthew C. Kriner on March 25, 2012
at 1:18 pm
A job should never suffocate you mentally, or emotionally.
By: paycheck calculator nj on April 3, 2012
at 7:16 pm
You’ve made a lot of sharp specifics so there.
By: viagra 100mg on April 4, 2012
at 4:18 pm
You have brought up a very good points , thankyou for the post.
By: http://www.machineabiere.net/ on April 6, 2012
at 2:02 pm
This really is precisely what I used to be looking for, thank you
By: Kwiaty wiosenne on April 8, 2012
at 8:47 pm
There are some interesting points in time in this article however I don’t know if I see all of them middle to heart. There’s some validity but I will take hold opinion till I look into it further. Good article , thanks and we want more! Added to FeedBurner as properly
By: FLAVIA WIAND on April 11, 2012
at 4:29 pm
I would like to express thanks to the writer just for bailing me out of such a dilemma. Because of looking out throughout the world-wide-web and seeing opinions which were not pleasant, I thought my entire life was done. Living devoid of the solutions to the problems you’ve solved by means of your main website is a crucial case, and the ones which could have in a wrong way affected my career if I had not encountered the website. Your own expertise and kindness in handling the whole lot was important. I am not sure what I would’ve done if I had not encountered such a thing like this. I’m able to at this point look forward to my future. Thanks for your time so much for this impressive and sensible guide. I will not hesitate to endorse the blog to anybody who desires support on this problem.
By: best car warranty on April 11, 2012
at 5:45 pm
I’m not sure why but this blog is loading very slow for me. Is anyone else having this problem or is it a issue on my end? I’ll check back later and see if the problem still exists.
By: Chandra Sabal on April 16, 2012
at 11:53 am
I like this Blog..
By: dvd slideshow on April 16, 2012
at 6:03 pm
I truly wanted to construct a small message to be able to appreciate you for some of the fabulous ways you are giving at this site. My time intensive internet look up has finally been rewarded with sensible facts and techniques to write about with my visitors. I ‘d claim that many of us website visitors are really blessed to live in a superb place with many lovely individuals with valuable techniques. I feel truly lucky to have seen the webpage and look forward to some more exciting minutes reading here. Thank you once again for everything.
By: Prestashop Template on April 26, 2012
at 12:05 am
I just wanted to write down a brief comment in order to appreciate you for all of the superb facts you are giving out on this site. My time-consuming internet search has at the end been rewarded with reliable insight to go over with my partners. I would declare that we website visitors actually are undoubtedly endowed to be in a really good community with very many marvellous individuals with useful tricks. I feel extremely privileged to have discovered your site and look forward to many more brilliant times reading here. Thanks a lot again for a lot of things.
By: Ve may bay on May 3, 2012
at 10:14 am
thank you for all your efforts that you have put in this. Very interesting info. “Friends do not live in harmony merely, as some say, but in melody.” by Henry David Thoreau.
By: narodni on May 5, 2012
at 10:42 pm
This is a topic which is near to my heart… Many thanks! Exactly where are your contact details though?
By: free sample razor on May 14, 2012
at 5:13 pm
Another very entertaining post. Ive been reading through some of your posts and finally decided to drop a comment on this one. Please feel free to visit my site Doppler
By: zinc on May 16, 2012
at 6:48 am
Donate for a good Cause – Stefan Alessia
By: Silvia Stefan on June 4, 2012
at 4:13 pm
Valuable info. Lucky me I found your site by chance, and I’m shocked why this coincidence didn’t came about in advance!
I bookmarked it.
By: Shelby B. Mcclarin on October 2, 2014
at 2:05 pm