Go Back  Offshoreonly.com > General Discussion > General Boating Discussion
Thanks to those that serve, past and present... >

Thanks to those that serve, past and present...

Notices

Thanks to those that serve, past and present...

Thread Tools
 
Old 12-22-2006, 12:49 PM
  #1  
Registered
Thread Starter
 
tlark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Lee'sSummit/6mmLOTO
Posts: 331
Received 204 Likes on 97 Posts
Default Thanks to those that serve, past and present...

Merry Christmas and God Bless.


Audio:
http://www.networkaudiovault.com/kti...asPoemKTIS.wma

A Soldier’s Early Christmas Poem by Michael Marks
Posted by thehendricksreport on November 20th, 2006

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 yard 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 Gramps died at ‘ Pearl on a day in December,”
Then he sighed, “That’s a Christmas ‘Gram always remembers.
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ‘ Nam ‘,
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… an American 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 foxhole 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, “harbor 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.”

©Copyright December 7, 2000 by Michael Marks
tlark is offline  
Old 12-22-2006, 06:33 PM
  #2  
Registered
 
jhiguy377's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Lake Oswego OR
Posts: 989
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default Re: Thanks to those that serve, past and present...

amen
jhiguy377 is offline  
Old 12-23-2006, 07:09 AM
  #3  
Registered
 
JIMKID Motorsports's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Livonia Mi Usa
Posts: 1,981
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 3 Posts
Re: Thanks to those that serve, past and present...

This Especially Goes Out To Sarge From The Profesonal Marine Race Team Thanks Again For Keeping The Home Land Safe And Lets Hope Those Other Guys Get Help You Know Who I Mean Merry Christmas And Happy New Year And Get Your Butt Home Soon Flipper
JIMKID Motorsports is offline  
Old 12-23-2006, 07:11 AM
  #4  
Registered
Platinum Member
 
Comanche3Six's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 9,242
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default Re: Thanks to those that serve, past and present...

Thank You U.S. Armed Forces
Comanche3Six is offline  
Old 12-23-2006, 07:50 AM
  #5  
Registered
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: LANCASTER, NEW YORK 14086
Posts: 422
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 2 Posts
Default Re: Thanks to those that serve, past and present...

amen
David Stotz is offline  
Old 12-23-2006, 07:59 AM
  #6  
VIP Member
VIP Member
 
AugiePensa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: JERSEY,
Posts: 6,173
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default Re: Thanks to those that serve, past and present...

This is why the whole front of our Race Boat is in tribute to our TROOPS and our SUPPORT of them. My Dad spent 4 1/2 years overseas fighting in WWII. THANK YOU DAD AND EVERY OTHER SOLIDER (MAN and WOMEN) for SECURING OUR FREEDOM.
__________________
P4-13 Team THE JERSEY BOYZ OFFSHORE POWERBOAT RACING, OPA/ SBI/APBA/UIM. PRESIDENT: THE JERSEY BOYZ , VICE-PRESIDENT: OPA RACING, THE GREAT SOUTH BAY RACING ASSOCIATION. WAZZUP RACING ENGINES
AugiePensa is offline  
Old 12-23-2006, 08:07 AM
  #7  
Easily Distracted
Platinum Member
 
Racegirl3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Bucyrus, Ohio
Posts: 22,944
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default Re: Thanks to those that serve, past and present...

Amen .. God Bless
__________________
Bad Girls Make Good Company
Racegirl3 is offline  
Old 12-23-2006, 08:17 AM
  #8  
Registered
 
FeverMike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Tampa
Posts: 6,665
Received 9 Likes on 5 Posts
Default Re: Thanks to those that serve, past and present...

Thanks to all the armed forces of today and those that have served! My dad was a Master Sargent in the 82nd Airborne 508th in WWII.
FeverMike is offline  
Old 12-23-2006, 09:13 AM
  #9  
AKA "BAZOOKA JOE"
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: NEW JERSEY
Posts: 3,179
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: Thanks to those that serve, past and present...

Thank You All :d
bojoe2 is offline  
Old 12-23-2006, 10:04 AM
  #10  
Registered
iTrader: (1)
 
lucky strike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Pompano Beach, Florida
Posts: 8,962
Received 482 Likes on 162 Posts
Default Re: Thanks to those that serve, past and present...

Amen & Thanks !
lucky strike is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
SUNSATION 25
General Boating Discussion
0
03-10-2007 11:02 PM
ThoroughHustler
General Boating Discussion
45
04-05-2006 06:23 PM
customryder
Donzi
10
10-05-2005 05:14 PM
mcmanusoffshore
General Racing Discussion
10
02-12-2005 08:30 AM
mcmanusoffshore
Poker Runs and Boating Events
0
02-08-2005 09:32 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



Quick Reply: Thanks to those that serve, past and present...


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.