“If you don’t stand behind out troops, feel free to stand in front of them.”

Thank you to everyone in the United States military. Merry Christmas.

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.”

PLEASE, would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many

people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our

U.S service men and women for our being able to celebrate these

festivities.. Let’s try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people

stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.

LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN

30th Naval Construction Regiment

OIC, Logistics Cell One

Al Taqqadum, Iraq

I often look at Faces of the Fallen, published by The Washington Post, to remind myself the sacrifice our military personnel are making on a daily basis. I do my best to find the online stories of the soldiers, and write on their obituary wall. This is something that I feel helps the families of the soldiers, and helps me fully comprehend what I need to be thankful for.

I ran across another woman who was also posting on the obituaries of the fallen soldiers; in memory of her nephew that was KIA in 2004. I sent her an email asking about the beautiful words she shared on each of the sites, and she sent me a response. I would like to share with you all:

Dear Heather,

As difficult as it is, I have been trying to sign each and every one of our
soldiers legacy.  What I wrote actually came from a song that I found here in
New York and we played it at David’s services.  We have come to know it as
“David’s song”, but in reality; it is for each and everyone of our soldiers.
Below is actually the words to the song, I am not allowed to copy the entire
song onto the legacy that is why only a part of the song is there.  The song is
very emotional but we feel it is the most appropiate song for our soldier.
Everyday I think of all our soldiers and the sacrifice they have paid and I find
comfort writing to other families, cause I do know what you/they are going through. For every
memorial that we go to, this song follows us and many strangers have asked us
where did you get that song, etc. And I am honored to tell them the history of
this song. My sister Vicki (David’s Mom) has been in touch w/ the writer of this song, Krissy Jackson. She does have a website too if you wanted to listen to the song.
Please if you have a moment take time and sign David’s legacy as well. It would
mean the world to me and my family as well.

For you every single soldier
Those who served so honorable
Your life was forever altered
While I’m home safe and free
I stand with grateful admiration
I stand respectful and so proud
I know I’m only a civilian
And I don’t even know if it’s allowed

But I salute you; allow me the honor
to salute you with permission let me say
Even though I hold no rank know that from my heart
My humble gratitude comes from the deepest part.
I salute you.

For those missing in action;
for those who didn’t make it home.
I know you’re in God’s presence you are not alone.
For every neatly folder flag;
for every shattered family
I will do the only thing I know to dignify your memory.

I salute you, allow me the honor
to salute you with permission let me say
even though I hold no rank know that from my heart
my humble gratitude comes from the deepest part.

I salute you .

Every second you sacrificed
I hold you in my prayers.
So with one hand on my heart and the other in the air;

I salute you, allow me the honor
to salute you with permission let me say
even though I hold no rank know that from my heart
my humble gratitude comes from the deepest part.

I salute you allow me the honor to salute you with
permission let me say even though I hold no rank know
that from my heart my humble gratitude comes from the
deepest part.

I salute you

I salute you

God Bless you and your family.

Suzanne MacDaniel
A Proud Aunt
Sgt. David M. Fisher
KIA 12/1/04

I think it’s important that we all find a way to thank these people. The ones that give their lives on a daily basis for us, and for the families that are remembering why. We need to thank them. We need to support them. And, we need to salute them. I urge you to find your voice of encouragement, and support in any way you can.