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Ringo
Site Administrator


3793 Posts
Posted -  12/12/2008  :  09:50
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 garden 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 Grandfather died in France ' on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gran always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of Burma
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.... a Union 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 trench 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, "harbour 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 favour of sending this to as many
people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our
Armed 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..

Chris Smith
(Skipatrol)
Royal Marine Ret



Click for Skipton, United Kingdom Forecast
Author Replies  
Another
Traycle Mine Overseer


6250 Posts
Posted - 12/12/2008 : 10:14
Yes.


" I'm a self made man who worships his creator" Go to Top of Page
thomo
Barlick Born Old Salt


2021 Posts
Posted - 12/12/2008 : 10:43
A fine and fitting tribute to those who have no equal on this earth. "God bless the Bootnecks"


thomo Go to Top of Page
HerbSG
Senior Member


1185 Posts
Posted - 12/12/2008 : 13:41
A truly fitting tribute and timely.  Just this past Monday a motorcade made its way along the highway a half mile or so down the street, on each overpass there were dozens/hundreds of people with Canadian flags, police and fire vehicles with lights and sirens in use.  The highway has been renamed " The Highway of Heroes".  It is the route taken by these motorcades returning Canadian troops from Afghanistan, after they land and are being taken to Toronto for post mortems.  This one was particulary sad, close to Xmas and 3 bodies of young men.

When the drug lord Karzai says "NATO troops are not doing the job" it is time to get the hell out.  We should not be there supporting the heroin trade or helping people that do not want to be helped.  Get out and send the troops to Zimbawe and any naval support to stop piracy.


HERB


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Tizer
VIP Member


5150 Posts
Posted - 13/12/2008 : 11:48
My eyes shed tears when reading that poem, especially having heard on the news about four Royal Marines who have just been killed in Afghanistan. For more general information about the Royal Marines, see the Wikipedia page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Marines


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Flutterby
Regular Member


690 Posts
Posted - 14/12/2008 : 23:48
Lovely poem and very moving! Tough men and the best.


KmpGo to Top of Page
HerbSG
Senior Member


1185 Posts
Posted - 15/12/2008 : 06:28
3 more Canadians killed by roadside bombs Sunday.  WHY are we there? 


HERB


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thomo
Barlick Born Old Salt


2021 Posts
Posted - 16/12/2008 : 13:38
I have just had a look at the "Ski Patrol" website which leads to another site, "Fight Fire With Fire". Now there is a site that would get the "IC4s" jumping up and down, not to mention the "Comrades", there are also a great deal of links, not for the faint hearted this stuff. Nice to know though, that it is not just me who wishes they would repatriate themselves and thier beliefs whence they came.


thomo Go to Top of Page
frankwilk
Senior Member


3975 Posts
Posted - 16/12/2008 : 14:12
Our son served with the Sargeant who was killed from 45 Commando the other day.Brings it home when it's that close



Frank Wilkinson       Once Navy Always Navy Go to Top of Page
frankwilk
Senior Member


3975 Posts
Posted - 16/12/2008 : 14:16
What are the links for " Fight Fire with Fire "  and " Ski Patrol "  ???



Frank Wilkinson       Once Navy Always Navy Go to Top of Page
thomo
Barlick Born Old Salt


2021 Posts
Posted - 16/12/2008 : 16:56
Try this Shipmate.
acaciafreedomfighters.blogspot.com
Happy reading.


thomo Go to Top of Page
frankwilk
Senior Member


3975 Posts
Posted - 16/12/2008 : 17:03
Cheers Thomo  You can call round for half a tot anytime



Frank Wilkinson       Once Navy Always Navy Go to Top of Page


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