DarQstorm's blog: "Suppoting our troops"

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."

LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30t h Naval Construction Regiment

This is a poem being sent from a Marine to his Dad. For those who take the time to read it, you'll see a letter from him to his Dad at the bottom.

It makes you truly thankful for not only the Marines, but ALL of our troops.
THE MARINE








We all came together,

Both young and old

To fight for our freedom,

To stand and be bold.



In the midst of all evil,

We stand our ground,

And we protect our country

From all terror around.



Peace and not war,

Is what some people say.

But I'll give my life,

So you can live the American way.




I give you the right

To talk of your peace.

To stand in your groups,

and protest in our streets.



But still I fight on,

I don'tgripe, I don't whine.

I'm just one of the people

Who is doing your time.



I'm harder than nails,

Stronger than any machine.

I'm the immortal soldier,

I'm a U.S. MARINE!< /FONT& gt;


So stand in my shoes,

And leave from your home.

Fight for the people who hate you,

With the protests they've shown.




Fight for the stranger,

Fight for the young.

So they all may have,

The greatest freedom you've won.



Fight for the sick,

Fight for the poor

Fight for the cripple,

Who lives next door.< /o:p>



But when your time comes,

Do what I've done.

For if you stand up for freedom,

You'll stand when the fight's done.

By: Corporal Aaron M. Gilbert,USMarine Corps

USS SAIPAN,PERSIAN GULF



March 23, 2003

Hey Dad,

Do me a favor and label this 'The Marine' and send it to everybody on your email list.Even leave this letter in it.

I want this rolling all over theUS; I want every home reading it. Every eye seeing it. And every heart to feel it.
So can you please send this for me? I would but my email time isn't that long and I don't have much time anyway.

You know what Dad? I wondered what it would be like to truly understand what JFK said in His inaugural speech.

'When the ti me comes to lay down my life for my country,

I do not cower from this responsibility. I welcome it.'

Well, now I know. And I do. Dad, I welcome the opportunity to do what I do. Even though I have left behind a beautiful wife, and I will miss the birth of our first born child, I would do it 70 times over to fight for the place that God has made for my home. I love you all and I miss you very much. I wish I could be there when Sandi has our baby, but tell her that I love her, and Lord willing, I will be comin g home soon. Give Mom a great big hug from me and give one to yourself too.

Aaron

Please let this marine (and all our military)know we care by passing his poem onto your friends even if you don't usually take tim e to forward mail.. do it this time!

Thanks,