This
page
is
dedicated
to
our
loved
ones
that
are
serving
our
great
nation
this
Christmas.
A
special
thanks
to
the
soldiers
and
their
families
at
Ft.
Bliss,
TX.
We
pray
daily
for
our
Armed
Forces
and
their
families.
Not
only
are
we
thankful
for
the
sacrifices
that
you
and
your
families
so
willingly
endure;
we
SALUTE
you.
Thank
you
so
much
for
what
you
do.
We
are
proud
of
your
service
to
our
great
nation!
This
poem
was
sent
to
us
from
some
one
that
found
it
on
the
internet.
It
says
it
very
well
of
our
Armed
Forces.
If
you
know
the
author
of
this
poem
please
let
us
know
so
we
can
give
this
person
the
credit.
Again
thank
you
so
much
for
your
service,
God
Bless
you
and
your
family
!
!
!
!
Remember
the
price
of
freedom
is
not
cheap,
if
anyone
thinks
it
is
go
to
a
cemetery
and
look
at
one
of
the
fallen
heroes
age
from
any
war
!
!
!
!
This
was
forwarded
from
a
Soldier
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."
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