I don't know the original author but it was edited by me.

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 LONELY HOME LIVED.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT, A STRANGE SIGHT DID I SEE, NO
TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND, ON
THE WALL - PICTURES OF A FAR DISTANT LAND.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS, A
SOBERING THOUGHT APPEARED IN MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK, COLD, AND
DREARY, FOUND THE HOME OF A Marine, ONCE I COULD SEE
CLEARLY.

THE Marine LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, ALL ALONE THERE IN GREEN, NOT
HOW I'D PICTURED A U.S. Marine.

WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES I SAW ON THIS NIGHT, OWED
THEIR LIVES TO THESE Marines 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 Marines, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP BUT WONDER, "HOW MANY ARE ALONE?", ON
THIS COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

WITH THAT THOUGHT A TEAR CAME TO MY EYE, DROPPED TO MY
KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE Marine AWAKENED AND I HEARD HIS 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 Marine ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP, COULDN'T
CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL, AND WE
BOTH SHIVERED FROM THE COLD WINTER'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD, LONELY, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR, SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE Marine ROLLED OVER, WITH A VOICE SOFT AND
PURE, WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA. IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY,
AND ALL IS SECURE."

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT,

MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND, GOD BLESS AND GOOD NIGHT.



I miss my family, the Corps

Kevin

You are a totally "AWESOME" GUY. I am honored to call you my Friend! You deserve so much more than life can give you.

Merry Christmas and God Bless You

Ken

Kevin,

I feel what you mean here. You know I do.

Semper Fi, Marine.

Brian
Your Transportation Service

Kevin,

Thank you and, thank you for the video, too.

I know, for me, personally, as I watched the video, I am still amazed by how large the flag is and how it has changed my personal relationship with it, holding it in my hands after seeing it draped over a casket.

I wander back to my brother and I, at dusk, 'Taps' playing and retiring the flag for the day at Boy Scout camp. He was so very meticulous about folding it. He was so very meticulous about a lot of things and, he took that with him to Vietnam.

Every so often, I unfold it and fold it again, innvite it back in again.


Thank you...


Dave

Kevin,

Thanks for this poem and especially for the reminder. I lost two friends in Vietnam: Ed, who was a little older than me, and Carl, who was only a few days older. Neither lasted more than a few months. I often wonder what they would have done with their lives and how much was lost through their deaths.

Much love,
Larry

Great poem. As a Vietnam veteran, I also have some friends names on the Wall. Heal well my friend/brother.
Pete (Irishmoose)