Manny Laureano

> Twas the Night Before Christmas
> He lived all alone,
> In 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 Sign did I see,
> No Tinsel. No Presents.
> Not even a Tree.
>
> No stocking by Mantle,
> Just boots filled with sand.
> On the wall hung a picture
> Of far distant lands.
>
> With Medals and Badges,
> Awards of all Kinds
> A sober thought
> Came through my mind.
>
> For 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
> Of 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 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 Grown-ups would Celebrate
> A Bright Christmas Day.
>
> They all enjoyed Freedom
> Each month of the Year.
> Because 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 eye,
> I dropped to my knees,
> and I started to Cry.
>
> The Soldier awakened
> And I heard A rough voice,
> Santa don't cry,
> This Life is my Choice.
>
> I fight for Freedom,
> I 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 watch,
> And I knew he was right.
> "Merry Christmas My Friend,
> And To All A Good Night."
>
>
> Air Force. Army. Marines. Coast Guard. Navy.
> A Marine stationed in Okinawa Japan wrote this poem. The following is
> his request:
>
> "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
> our U.S. Servicemen and women for our being able to celebrate these
> festivities."


Happy to do it, whomever you may be.

ML

B15M

My wife and I are glad to read it.

Alex Yates

Happy to read it as well. Very touching.

Liad Bar-EL

Rebbe Nachman was shattered, empty. His infant son had just died. Although the Rebbe's closest followers had come to console him, they could not bear to witness his torment and ran from the room.

When they returned the next day, the Rebbe said to them, “Had you not run out, I would have told you something beautiful.” He then taught a lesson entitled Garden of the Souls, explaining how we can extract meaning from even our greatest suffering. This is what we must do if we are to leave sadness and find hope and joy.

Like a soldier who is trained to kill so can he learn to help give life.

If you believe like a soldier that you can damage, then believe that you can fix.

If you believe that you can harm, then believe that you can heal.

Liad Bar-EL

tpter1

Manny & Liad- Many years ago, my first teaching position was cut by a budget axe. They were reducing staff, I was last hired (low man on the totem pole), so my behind was marching out the door. At the end of the year, one of the teachers gave me a philosphy book on tape: Shambala, Sacred Path (or way; can't remember which now) of the Warrior.

One of the first things discussed is the way of the warrior; much like you say in your response. One of resolute braveness; of self-sacrifcie for others; of courage to face and do what must be done, with integrity at the helm. To take the righteous path, rather than the easier one.

Liad's response echoed that; it has always been with me since then.

__________________
-Glenn
"Roses have thorns; shining waters mud. Clouds and eclipses stain the moon and the sun; and history reeks of the wrongs we have done. After today, after today, consider me gone."- Sting

silverstar

The local radio station had that read on air with Silent Night playing in the background. I was running late for school and my Dad was running late for work, but we stopped to listen to that. It made me cry.

God Bless those who are so brave and selfless that they will go and put their lives on the line to keep this Country, and others, safe and free. We support you all!

Merry Christmas,
Lara

__________________
email: Lara.Shema@gmail.com
*****************************************
*insert witty comment here*

Liad Bar-EL

I'm sure that the Mercy Ship has been given more compansionate help to thousands of men, women and children in Iraq and in all the poor countries of this world.

Liad Bar-EL

Manny Laureano

Here's the link to Mercy Ships:

http://www.mercyships.org/

Be advised: some of the "before" pictures of the children that the surgeons help are hard to take. Others border on the unbelievable. There's an organization that my youth symphony once played a benefit for called "Operation Smile" that helped kids from South America with horrendous facial deformities. The post about Mercy Ships reminded me of that.

I thank G-d for the ability of the doctors that are able to help these children. The thread has taken a bit of a twist but this is good info about an heroic organization, apparently.

ML