HomemadeTurbo - DIY Turbo Forum - ***Attention Everyone***

> > > '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 A 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 DISORDER;
> > > NOT HOW I PICTURED
> > > A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.
> > >
> > > WAS THIS THE HERO
> > > OF WHO 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 THIS SOLDIER
> > > WHO WAS WILLING TO FIGHT.
> > >
> > > SOON 'ROUND THE WORLD
> > > THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
> > > AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
> > > A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.
> > >
> > > THEY ALL ENJOY 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
> > > AND WITH A VOICE, SOFT AND PURE,
> > > WHISPERED, "CARRY ON, SANTA.
> > > IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL'S 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 Marine stationed
> > > in Okinawa, Japan. He makes the following request:
> > >
"Would you send this to as many people as you
can? Christmas is coming soon and some credit
is due to our U.S. service men and women for our being
able to celebrate this and other holidays. Let's
stop and think of our true heroes who have sacrificed
their lives or parts of their lives so that we may
enjoy our many freedoms."

mike