Merry Christmas to All!

**A Marine stationed in Okinawa Japan wrote this poem. The following is his request. I think it is reasonable . . . "PLEASE. Would you do me a thoughtful favor of sending this poem 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."


Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,
In a one bedroom house made of plaster & 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 the fire, just boots filled with sand,
On the wall hung pictures of far distant lands.

With medals and badges, awards of all kind
A sober thought came through my mind.
For this house was different, so dark and dreary,
I knew I had found the home of a soldier, once I could see clearly.

I heard stories about them, I had to see more
So I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.
And there he lay sleeping silent alone,
Curled up on the floor in his one bedroom home.

His face so gentle, his room in such disorder,
Not how I pictured a United States soldier.
Was this the hero of whom I’d just read?
Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?

His head was clean shaven, his weathered face tan,
I soon understood this was more than a man.
For I realized the families that I saw that night
Owed their lives to these men who were willing to fight.

Soon ‘round the world, the children would play,
And grownups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.
They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year,
Because of soldiers like this one lying here.

I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone
On a cold Christmas Eve in a land far from home.
Just 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."

With that he rolled over and drifted off into sleep,
I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep.
I watched him for hours, so silent and still,
I noticedhe shivered from the cold night’s chill.

So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,
And I covered this Soldier from his toes to his head.
And I put on his T-shirt of gray and black,
With an eagle and an Army patch embroidered on back.

And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride,
And for a shining moment, I was United States Army deep inside.
I didn’t want to leave him on that cold dark night,
This guardian of honor so willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over, whispered with a voice so clean and pure,
"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 was sent to us by Shannon, a C-17 Loadmaster, spending the holidays on foreign soil ...

I hope this finds you well and happy, and that you are thankful for the blessings we have as Americans...if you get the chance, thank a vet, or someone currently serving in Iraq or Afghanistan...as they are partially responsible for your freedom to celebrate this year.

A late merry Christmas is now on it's way,  below is a letter from who I now consi a beloved friend, someone who has grown so much in the past couple years it's amazing...  I wanted to send everyone a merry Christmas but our computers were down, so when they came back up and I wasn't flying, I started to write an email but found Jason's email to be much more moving than any I could write.  I too am alone on Christmas in Turkey, but my crew and I, as well as a lot of other airlifters from Charleston decided to be family this year, for us to set aside the gripes and competition between our two bases and be happy for what we do have.  I applaud you Jason, there are worse places I could be, Turkey isn't so horrible.  There were a lot of mortar attacks on Iraq on Christmas day (as I had a couple friends involved).  And I sit back and think about how fortunate I was not to have ever been part of one.  So Jason, Merry Christmas from a lot of people out there who love and support you but don't know you personally for what you are doing. If you don't know Jason than you don't know that even though in Afghanistan this Christmas he asked that people not send him presents...he says he didn't need them...all he wanted was for his friends and family to make a donation in his name for someone who needed it more than he did.  Admirable considering...  I am so proud of you Jason, as Liz would say you are definitely done cooking!  See you soon safe and sound...Keep yur head down!   CatchYa on the Flip Side!

Love Always,
A1C §hannon W. Spencer  

As I sit here, alone again, I reflect about the importance of such a simple part of life. Holiday. It's just another day really. The sun still rises and sets like any other. But what makes a holiday special? A date isn't significant. No holiday is any more important than any other day. Just because something happened an even amount of years ago doesn't make today special. Or does it? It's not the holiday itself that's special, but there's definitely something to note about them. People change. For one day people celebrate life in one way or another. We remember what's forgotten every day. Be kind to others. Live life to the fullest. Give to someone for no other reason than to see them smile. People work harder for holidays and for what? Would it not be easier to just call it off, save your money, and relax for a bit? But we don't and we shouldn't. Why? Every day is the same. Get up. Shower. Shave. Brush your teeth. Go to work. Get pissed off because everyone you work with is an idiot but you have to get along with them anyway. Go home too exhausted to do anything but watch TV, missing out on precious time spent with loved ones. But on holidays its different. We actually get along with people. Suddenly you find yourself inviting the guy who makes you miserable at work every day home for dinner because you just learned his family lives in another state and he can't afford the plane ticket. So holidays aren't just another day. It's when we're at our best. Its when we pull our inner strength to work a little harder to get a little more out of life just for the simplest joys of seeing smiles on the faces around us.

I'm alone today on Christmas. I never thought it would be this hard. Just another day? No. I'm missing all that I talked about above. I'm missing the best of the people I love. People I see fight all year are getting together and remembering that they are a family and really do love each other. God willing, I will be a part of that tonight... I will not be alone. God bless everyone and Merry Christmas.

--- Jason
May you always find water and shade. **************************************************

All of us in the core group of HeroToHero.us would like to wish you and yours, the most joyous of seasons.

And whether it's Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa ... or any special holiday traditions ... We hope it is fun, happy, and safe.

Remember to be careful with all those lights and candles ... let's give our first responders some down time, too!

Please take a moment to remember those families who are separated due to military orders.  If there is a family near you with a deployed service member, let them know that they are not forgotten.

Troop support is one of the most selfless, and important things you can do.  It is part of a long American history ... check out the photos.  This is not the first ... nor sadly ... will it be the last time we have troops serving on foreign soil over the holidays.

And keep that spirit of giving ... after the season is over, HeroToHero.us will be back at it!  5,000 shirts, folks ... that means 5,000 of our own troops are looking to see if they are remembered.  Please don't let them down!

Bless us all!

Liz, Kathy, Aris & Ron, Larry & Chani, and Leta

 PS ... Has anyone seen SHertz lately?  Can't find him, or his passport.  Hmmm ...