"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... 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.'

OLD GLORY

HELLO!  REMEMBER ME?

Some people call me Old Glory, others call me the Star Spangled Banner -- but whatever they call me, I am your Flag, the Flag of the United States of America.  Something has been bothering me, so I thought I might talk it over with you, because it is about you and me.

I remember some time ago people lined up on both sides of the street to watch the parade and naturally I was leading every parade, and proudly waving in the breeze.  When your daddy saw me coming, he immediately removed his hat and placed it against his left shoulder so that his hand was directly over his heart - remember?

And you, I remember you, standing there straight as a soldier.  You didn't have a hat, but you were giving the right salute.  Remember little sister? Not to be outdone, she was saluting the same as you with her right hand over her heart.  Remember?

What happened?  I'm still the same old flag.  Oh, I have a few more stars since you were a boy.  A lot more blood has been shed since those parades of long ago.

But now I don't feel as proud as I used to.  When I come down your street you just stand there with your hands in your pockets and I may get a small glance and then you look away.  Then I see the children running around and shouting - they don't seem to know who I am.  I saw one man take his hat off then look around.  He didn't see anybody else with their hats off so he quickly put his back on!

Is it a sin to be patriotic anymore?  Have you forgotten what I stand for and where I've been?  Anzio, Guadalcanal, Korea, Viet Nam.  Take a look at the memorial honor rolls sometime of those who never came back, in order to keep this Republic free:  One Nation Under God.  When you salute me you are actually saluting them.