T'was the night before...

[darrels joy]

T'was the night before Capture and all through the ground,
Saddam sat alone, and made not a sound.

His money was placed by his side with care,
In hopes that no one would know he was there.

He tried to settle down in his bed,
But visions of American soldiers marched in his head;

His hair all matted and needing a cap,
He thought he was settled in for a little nap,

When out, above ground, there arose such a clatter,
He sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.


Away from the doorway, holding on to his cash,
He thought about shooting, about making a dash.


The tunnel was dark, only a little light,
Shown down the hallway this ill fated night,


When, what to his aging eyes should appear,
But an army of one, ready to kick his rear.

With soldiers and officers, so quick and fast,
Six hundred strong, they hustled his as*.

More rapid than eagles his enemies they came,
He cried and wimpered, and said not a thing;

He was dressed all in rags, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with mud and dirt;

A bundle of Benjamins he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a burgler just opening his pack.

He WAS messy and weathered, not looking himself,
The giant had fallen, the soldiers said to themselves;

The blink of his eye and a bow of his head,
This was the moment he had lived to dread;

He spoke not a word, walked out without a fight,
Surrendered they said, no longer with might.

Laying his hand over his face and nose,
With this our army, from the ground they rose;

George W. let out a hoot, a holler, and a yell,
We'll make sure he pays, or burns in hell!
The President was heard exclaim, ere he walked out of sight,

"HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL AMERICANS, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!"

[HARDCORE]

"Loved it!!"

VERITAS

[revwardoc]

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 eye 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" "Its 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 sisters and brothers who stand at the front against any and all, To insure 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. ~Author Unknown

[Dragon Lady]

Dan,

Wow. I hope you don't mind if I copy that and send it out. It is beautiful.

Thank you to each and everyone of you who gave up so much for me and my family without ever knowing us. Not knowing whether we were nice people or bad. That is the truest definition of unconditional love.
I could live 5,000 years and never have enough time to show just how thankful and grateful I am to each of you.
Yes I served but it was during a time of general peace and I was never asked to make any sacrifice beyond moving 2,000 miles from home. How trivial and small I feel by comparison, but very thankful to each of you who came before me. For you paved the way and gave me the freedom to serve our home. And I am just as thankful to each of you who are now serving after my time has passed. For you continue to hold the watch and fight so that my grandchild will know that she has a wonderful home.

Thank you with all that I am,
DL

[revwardoc]

DragonLady,

Copying it is fine with me. I got it from another site and, since the internet's public domain, feel free.