MARINE Thank you!

[KarenCharin0]

A Different Christmas Poem

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."

[KarenCharin0]

Personal note: We ran into some problems at my church students forum, I prayed to our Father for some help and He sent me a MARINE! This is the second time our Father has seen fit to send a MARINE into my life when I prayed for help and answers to my problems, the first one became my Pastor. I learned a lot in a short time from them both and I'm still learning from them both. Thank you Father and thank you Marines! SEMPER FI and GUNG-HO my friend.


The motto SEMPER FI.

 The Marine motto SEMPER FIDELIS translated means always faithful, always faithful to the corps, to fellow Marines and to ourselves as Marines. I never realized how true that other Marine motto ONCE A MARINE ALWAYS A MARINE was until later in life I started wondering why I did certain thing the way I did, it was because I was a Marine and always will be. There is another old Marine motto that the second raider battalion used in the second world war, GUNG-HO it's Chinese an translated means work together or WORK AS ONE.

THE FINAL INSPECTION

 

The Marine stood and faced God,

 

Which must always come to pass.

 

He hoped his shoes were shining,

 

Just as brightly as his brass.

 

"Step forward now, Marine,

 

How shall I deal with you?

 

Have you always turned the other cheek?

 

To My Church have you been true?"

 

The Marine squared his shoulders and said,

 

"No, Lord, I guess I ain't.

 

Because those of us who carry guns,

 

Can't always be a saint.

 

I've had to work most Sundays,

 

And at times my talk was tough.

 

And sometimes I've been violent,

 

Because the world is awfully rough.

 

But, I never took a penny,

 

That wasn't mine to keep...

 

Though I worked a lot of overtime,

 

When the bills got just too steep.

 

And I never passed a cry for help,

 

Though at times I shook with fear.

 

And sometimes, God, forgive me,

 

I've wept unmanly tears.

 

I know I don't deserve a place,

 

Among the people here.

 

They never wanted me around,

 

Except to calm their fears

 

If you've a place for me here, Lord,

 

It needn't be so grand.

 

I never expected or had too much,

 

But if you don't, I'll understand.

 

There was a silence all around the throne,

 

Where the saints had often trod.

 

As the Marine waited quietly,

 

For the judgment of his God.

 

"Step forward now, you Marine,

 

You've borne your burdens well.

 

Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,

 

You've done your time in Hell."

 

~Author Unknown~

[shuntmama]

This is very nice Karen,


Thank you for sharing that.


Love, sarah

[KarenCharin0]

Battle Hymn Rendition
 If you missed hearing the US Army Band and Chorus welcome Pope Benedict XVI at the White House Rose Garden ceremony on 15 April, get a load of these high school kids. One of the fathers recorded it, added some graphic enhancements to the recording, and posted it on the web.  The song, of course, is the 'Battle Hymn Of The Republic.'   
It will send a few shivers up your spine.

 Now, click below!

http://www.greatdanepromilitary.com/Battle%20Hymn/index.htm

[shuntmama]

I will check out the link.


Thanks Karen,


Love, sarah