Just for You!

[SweetSue]

Merry Christmas everyone from a Canadian who cares!

'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 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 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."

Susan

[Wazza]

My eyes are wet, there's a lump in my throat
If the lump were bigger I think I would choke
But it's not raining and I am indoors
and my Adam's Apple is the same size as yours
So what could it be making me feel this way?
Those wonderful words you just had to say!

God Bless ALL the defenders of freedom around the world.

[JeffL]

Good morning, Waz!

That's a nice verse.

And Sue, I don't think any of us thought you didn't care!


Jeff

[philly]

'Twas the Night Before Christmas
and all through the plane,
The Jumpmaster's crazy
and the Safety's insane.

The static lines were hung
On the cables with care,
In hopes that a green light
Soon would be there.

At the one minute warning
Not a word would be said,
While malfunctions and entanglements
Danced through their heads.

With the door bundles rigged
I hooked up my pack,
Let's pull this jump off
Without a racetrack!

When out on the wing
There rose such a clatter,
I opened the door
To see what was the matter.

And what to my night visioned eyes
Should appear,
But a towed parachutist
And eight tiny reindeer.

I leaned out the door
And grabbed hold of his sleigh
He gave a four thousand count
When I cut him away.

He fell through the night
'Til I saw him no more,
Then came back inside
And yelled "Stand in the door."

Some jumpers were happy
And some full of fright,
But when the green light came on
They all jumped into the night.

On bundle, on jumpers,
The jumpmaster exits the door,
One thousand, two thousand,
Three thousand, four!

With my body in the blast
And my knees in the breeze,
St. Michael protect me,
From all of these trees!

Dark skies full of chutes
And strong winds did blow,
Then heard a faint distant laughter,
From the DZSO.

One riser slip
Hand over hand to my right,
But my hands were so cold
I could not hold on tight.

Now lower your ruck
And slip hard as you can,
Put your feet and knees together
And get ready to land.


Ball of the feet, calf, thigh,
And push up muscle,
Roll up your chute
And move out with a hustle.

To the chute turn-in point,
The red light and a vest,
Be sure your name is scratched
From the jump manifest.

saw the assembly point,
A strobe light so bright,
I knew even new troopers,
Would find it that night.

No matter where or when
Be it Desert or Snow,
The Airborne Troopers
Are ready to go.

For it was that jolly towed parachutist
Holding that light,
Saying happy jumping to all
And to all a good night.

Airborne!