Holiday Tribute For Our Soldiers

I am a member of Squidoo and see a lot of wonderful lenses. I would like to share this amazing lens with everybody today.

Twas The Night Before Christmas - A Holiday Tribute For Our American Soldiers by Crystal_Booth


In Support of Our Troops

Many of our military troops will not be home with their families for the holidays this year. Our soldiers deserve to be in our thoughts and prayers this Christmas season. They fight for our freedom and we owe them so much.

I received a tribute to our US troops in my email in the form of a poem. This poem is a modified version of "Twas the Night Before Christmas." It is a heart-wrenching story of Santa coming down a chimney to visit a US soldier. I was very moved by it.

Along with the poem came a request to share this tribute with everyone we know so that we may all be thinking of our American soldiers this holiday season. My way of spreading this tribute was to create this lens so that I could hopefully share this message with all of my fellow Americans.

Thanks to a fellow Squidoo member, I have been able to confirm that this poem was written by Lance Corporal James M. Schmidt in 1987 and that the actual title was "A Soldier's Silent Night." I hope that you enjoy this holiday tribute as much as I do.

Twas The Night Before Christmas
Twas the night before Christmas.
He lived all aloneIn 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.
Tor 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 celebrateA bright Christmas day.
They all enjoyed freedom
Each month of the yearBecause 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 eyeI 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 freedomI 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 watchAnd I knew he was right.
"Merry Christmas, my friend
And to all a good night."

Written By: Lance Corporal James M. Schmidt

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You can send our American troops a Christmas card. Click HERE to find out how!