chipper Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 ITS CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE ITS CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE 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 THE 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 LONE BRITISH SOLDIER WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ CURLED UP ON A PONCHO THE FLOOR FOR A BED I REALISED 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 ENJOY FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE I COULDN'T HELP WONDER HOW MANY ALONE ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME THE VERY THOUGH 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 SAT AND SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHTS CHILL I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD DARK NIGHT THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOUR SO WILLING TO FIGHT THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE WHISPERED 'CARRY ON SANTA ITS 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 WHICH I THINK IS REASONABLE. PLEASE WOULD YOU DO ME THE KIND FAVOUR OF SENDING THIS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN. CHRISTMAS WILL BE COMING SOON AND SOME CREDIT IS DUE TO OUR BRITISH SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN FOR OUR BEING ABLE TO CELEBRATE THESE FESTIVITIES. LET'S TRY IN THIS SMALL WAY TO PAY A TINY BIT BACK OF WHAT WE OWE! this was sent to me today ... chipper .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 :cry: and not afraid to admit it. The Soldier's prayer, Peace on earth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 Also share a thought for the Dutch men and woman in Afghanistan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 Any peace keeping forces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ives Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 yep lets think for once on chrismas day :-) about the troops all over the world peacekeeping to help others of diffrent nations than their own and thank them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john wheatley (R.I.P.) Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 As some of you may know I have two sons in the R A F. My oldest boy ships out a week come sunday for four months leaving his two year old daughter to spend her first Christmas without daddy. We had an early family Christmas this week, turkey, mince pies, the lot and it was nice. Christmas morning please raise a glass to all the daddys, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters and sweethearts who are away From their families and lets hope and pray that the grim reaper takes a few days off (permanently is too much to hope for) Regards, John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmite!! Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 John, wishing him all the best & a safe return.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 John, wishing him all the best & a safe return.... I agree. May he and the others return safely. Take care John, must be difficult for you and the family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipper Posted November 30, 2007 Author Share Posted November 30, 2007 john hope your son has a safe tour .... having been away twice over christmas :-) "IFOR & SFOR tour " i know what its like ....dont worry he be unpacking his bag before you know it........... chipper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john wheatley (R.I.P.) Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 My Dear Friends, Thank you all SO much for your kind wishes. Regards to you all, John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeEnfield Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 John, Wishing you and ALL your family, a peaceful time, and a speedy, safe return of your son. Best wishes. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeEnfield Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 :cry: and not afraid to admit it. The Soldier's prayer, Peace on earth. Second that sentiment, Tony............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 I don't know if someone is starting a quiet campaign for recognition of the peacekeeping forces, in which case right on go for it! but I received this today. Anonymous as well, who ever wrote both is very good and hits the nail very hard. A Different Christmas Poem 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, and 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 "Its 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... a British 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." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipper Posted December 1, 2007 Author Share Posted December 1, 2007 TONY B .... thats a great poem ............... the last verse says it all ........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." ............. chipper , Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeEnfield Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 :cry: That poem certainly brought a tear to my eyes, Tony. Thank You for posting it, and a HUGE THANK YOU to the person who penned it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 For once an e mail that is a Duty , Honour and Pleasure to pass on. the soldier's prayer, Peace on Earth. Your right Chipper, the last verse would make a modern version of the Credo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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