My mom forwarded this poem to me from my grandma. I have no idea who wrote it, but it’s a great reminder.
~Let us Never Forget~
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.”
Great post! At the Baptist church we went to last year, during their Christmas Eve service, a soldier who had recently returned home read this poem. He had to stop half way through because it was so emotional, and one of the associate pastors stepped up and continued for him – and especially considering what was being read, it was really beautiful.
Wonderful poem! And so true. It’s sad to think of all of the troops who are going to be away from their family this Christmas. Thanks for the good reminder to keep them in mind!
Good poem.
What does it make me think of?
Charlie Rangel wants a draft. I don’t think that’s a good idea. Sure, many of our great soldiers in the past were drafted, but I don’t think a draft is what is best for our country.
On a related note, I wanted to let you and your readers know, Kierstyn, that I and a couple others have started a blog called “The Christmas Watch,” (thechristmaswatch.blogspot.com). It’s design is to keep a close and constant eye on the happenings (commercial, for instance) this Christmas. I think we’re going to need more teammembers if we’re going to be really comprehensive, so I thought I’d throw that out there for anyone who might want to become a teammember. You wouldn’t be expected to post every day, or anything. It’s just that a lot of eyes and ears are needed.
Wonderful poem! I like it a lot!
Thats a good one!!!
Good poem Kierstyn. Not much you can add to that. Makes me very proud to be a citizen of this greatest nation on God’s green earth.
Wow, that it is a tear jerker. I wish I knew who wrote it, though maybe it is better we didn’t. God Bless America, God Bless Our Troops! I’m getting ready to leave for BMT for the US Air Force. I’m not quite an Airman yet but I know some of the troops and I can say that we greatly appreciate the support of the true Americans. You can disagree with policy but don’t take it out on the troops, we are just doing our job, what we are told to do. Good blog, keep up the good work!