Denise Christinzio ''A SOLDIER'S CHRISTMAS''by Michael Marks

PLEASE SHARE THIS VIDEO WITH ALL YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
"A SOLDIER'S CHRISTMAS" Recited by Denise Christinzio

"A SOLDIER'S CHRISTMAS"- WE JUST GOOGLED THIS POEM AND DISCOVERED THAT THE AUTHOR IS MICHAEL MARKS-COPYRIGHT DECEMBER 7, 2000. WE FEEL THAT MICHAEL DESERVES HIS DUE CREDIT AND A TREMENDOUS THANK YOU FOR THIS HEART FELT POEM.

WE WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU MICHAEL MARKS.

DENISE AND AL CHRISTINZIO

It's written in the style of " T'was The Night Before Christmas". PLEASE, let's show our brave men and women in the armed forces our support, and pass this video on to as many family and friends as you can.

During this holiday season this is one small way to say thank you and express our gratitude to all of our service men and women for their unselfish and unwavering commitment to protect and preserve our freedom. Let's acknowledge these heroes and those that have fallen. Let us not forget the families waiting to be reunited and the families of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Let us pray for peace in the New Year.

WORDS AND VERSE
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 eye 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 "It's really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night"

"Its 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 sisters and brothers
who stand at the front against any and all,
to insure 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."

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• SOLDIERS
• CHRISTMAS
• POEM
• ARMED
• FORCES
• ARMY
• AIR
• FORCE
• NAVY
• MARINES
• DENISE
• CHRISTINZIO
• PEACE
• ON
• EARTH
• 9/11
• SEPTEMBER
• 11

[juschillin88]

Thank you for posting this

CSSN Nelson USN 7th Fleet

[DeniseChristinzio]

Your very welcome. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Safe New Year. You be safe out there AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO!

Al and Denise Christinzio

[utopiaharley]

Very nice!

[soldierzdarling]

Thank you so much. My husband is in Iraq this Christmas... It's a sacrifice to be married to a man in uniform, but it's a sacrifice willingly made to get to love an American hero. Thank you for your support.

[TEEJAY9920]

Ahhhh........... This is cool but I was just looking because my name is Michael Marks.

[sgtstar]

Im a 3 time combat vet 8 yrs time in service army staff sergeant....im wiping my tears....absolutely beautiful...

[spartan19931993]

All I can say is...thank you...I'm sorry I cant muster anything else to say...the poem is still making me cry...so God bless you Denise and have a Merry Christmas...Thank you.

[DeniseChristinzio]

You are very welcome. Yes they are our true heros. God bless them all.

[alchristinzio0619]

Yes, our troops are always in our thoughts and our hearts but this time of year always seems to bring those thoughts and feelings to the surface along with the tears for those who have served and paid the ultimate price. We appreciate all that our troops have done for us. Our Christmas wish is that all of our Men, Women, Boys, Girls come home in 2008 safe and sound. We love and admire all of you. Merry Christmas to you all. May God bless you and protect you all.

AL and Denise Christinzio

[alphaursus]

I am a US MARINE myself and tears fell as I listened to this very touching poem. My time in the corps was 1983-1987. Although I saw nothing like my brothers and sisters now, they make me prouder than ever to have served. I will pass this on and I thank you Denise.

On Christmas day when your family and friends gather at the table. Please bow your head in silence for all of our men and women. Thank you