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 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 guardian,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 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"It's really alright,
I'm out here by choice,I'm here every night".

It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
that separate you from the darkness 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 Xmas Gram always remembers.
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of Nam,
And now it's 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 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 were 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 bleed
is payment enough,and with that we will trust.
That we mattered to you,as you mattered to us.

*S*U*P*P*O*R*T* *O*U*R* *T*R*O*O*P*S*
*U*N*T*I*L* *T*H*E*R*E* *I*S* *P*E*A*C*E*
*O*U*R* *P*R*A*Y*E*R*S* *F*R*O*M* *J*S*H*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~A*M*E*N*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Written by M.Marks/2000~Submitted by Cybear

If there is anyone at this time we should remember our troops that are
away from there family at this time. We should all say a prayer for them
for a safe return to there warm homes and to the arms of there loved
ones.

There are no words to express my thanks to these Brave Men & Women that
are fighting for our freedom.

THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!