Thanks for Giving
Ron Semko
Orlando, Florida
former Skyraider driver

Marshall Ruskin wrote:

> It's almost Friday, so I thought it would be acceptable to post this,
> .....especially since it is Thanksgiving for our American friends.
>
>  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 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.
>
>  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
>  IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.
>
>  THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
>  THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
>  NOT HOW I PICTURED
>  A CANADIAN 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 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 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."
>
>  This poem was written by a Canadian soldier stationed
>  in the former Yugoslavia.
>
> "Reprinted by Personal Request"
>
> Marshall Ruskin
> 84 Westy "Iron Igloo"
> Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
> Founding Member of "Vanagon's Anonymous"