twas the night before christmas

Hi, this is Lisa, GreggT's wife. I read this and thought it was worth posting. Hope its ok, I know its not about quads, sorry if upsets anyone. Thanks

FW: Twas the Night Before]

>
>>
>> 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 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,
>> 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 F OR 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.
>> 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.