‘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.
As I looked all about,
a strange sight I did see,
No tinsel, no presents,
not even a tree.
No stocking by mantel,
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’d 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 United States Soldier.
Was this the hero
of whom I’d just read,
Curled upon a poncho,
the floor for a bed?
I realized the families
that I was visiting 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 freedoms
each month of the year,
Because of the soldiers,
like the one lying here.
I couldn’t help wonder
how many lie 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 evening’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,
and 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.”
James M. Schmidt
Former U.S. Marine Corporal
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