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Navy_Navy_Navy
Admin
Joined: 07 May 2004
Posts: 5777
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 Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 8:13 pm Post subject: Merry Christmas! |
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| Quote: | | And there were in the same country shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night. And behold an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of God shone round about them; and they trembled with a great fear. And the angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy that shall be to all the people: For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying: Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will. |
A warm and happy Christmas to all of our forum members and to veterans and military members and all their families everywhere.
May God bless them all and you with every good thing in the new year!
Echo Juliet |
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streetsweeper95B
PO2
Joined: 25 Nov 2004
Posts: 365
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 11:04 pm Post subject: Re: Merry Christmas! |
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| Navy_Navy_Navy wrote: | | Quote: | | And there were in the same country shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night. And behold an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of God shone round about them; and they trembled with a great fear. And the angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy that shall be to all the people: For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying: Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will. |
A warm and happy Christmas to all of our forum members and to veterans and military members and all their families everywhere.
May God bless them all and you with every good thing in the new year!
Echo Juliet |
MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone!
_________________
"Proud Member of the Freak Show"
Last edited by streetsweeper95B on Mon Dec 25, 2006 11:51 am; edited 1 time in total |
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LewWaters
Admin
Joined: 18 May 2004
Posts: 4042
Location: Washington State
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| Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 12:14 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | A SOLDIER'S CHRISTMAS
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." |
©Copyright December 7, 2000 by Michael Marks
Author's Note: A Soldier's Christmas was the first in this series of patriotic writings, drafted on Pearl Harbor Day 2000 when in the wake of the 2000 Presidential Election our nation saw the right of US Armed Forces personnel openly questioned and debated. I felt it unconscionable that at the onset of the Christmas season, those serving to defend our nation would hear anything but our love and support. It is our challenge to stand for their rights at home while they stand for our lives and safety overseas. This poem went out and quickly spread around the world in emails, letters, magazines. I received letters from Marines in Bosnia, soldiers in Okinawa, from a submariner who xeroxed a copy for everyone on his sub. Moms wrote, dads, brothers and sisters. I have saved and cherish every letter and set out to continue writing throughout the year.
A Soldiers Christmas
I wish each and all a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Years. To all the troops, a very special Merry Christmas to them. I hope your sacrifices are not made in vain and your mission is completed in short order. Thank you especially for protecting our freedoms.
Merry Christmas To All
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Clark County Conservative |
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Fort Campbell
Vice Admiral
Joined: 31 Aug 2004
Posts: 896
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rhv5862
PO2
Joined: 21 Aug 2004
Posts: 379
Location: Massachusetts
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| Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 2:44 am Post subject: Merry Christmas |
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to one and all.
May God bless you all and be with our troops and keep them out of harms way.
RHV5862 |
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Guest
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| Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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a great holiday to all on this site.
to all our troops protecting our freedoms
to all the families of 9/11
to mom and dad as you look down
eddie |
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GenrXr
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Joined: 05 Aug 2004
Posts: 1720
Location: Houston
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| Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 4:47 pm Post subject: |
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Merry Christmas
_________________
"An activist is the person who cleans up the water, not the one claiming its dirty."
"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to stand by and do nothing." Edmund Burke (1729-1797), Founder of Conservative Philosophy |
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Doll
Commander
Joined: 04 Jul 2005
Posts: 339
Location: The Beltway
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| Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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Merry Christmas to all. May you all be blessed this holiday of celebration remembering Jesus is the true reason for the season. I pray you spend this day with those you love and those that love you.
_________________
The HILL Chronicles
Soldiers' Angels
"Wednesday Hero - Google It!" |
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BuffaloJack
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Joined: 10 Aug 2004
Posts: 1637
Location: Buffalo, New York
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| Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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Merry Christmas and may God Bless all of our Troops and every one of you, my friends.
_________________
Swift Boats - Qui Nhon (12/69-4/70), Cat Lo (4/70-5/70), Vung Tau (5/70-12/71) |
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dusty
Admiral
Joined: 27 Aug 2004
Posts: 1264
Location: East Texas
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| Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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God Bless and keep each and every one of you and Best Wishes for the coming New year to all.
Thanks to all in the military services who can't be with their families this Christmas for their sacrifice for our sakes.
And Merry Christmas for Jesus sake above all.
Dusty
_________________
Left and Wrong are the opposite of Right! |
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wonhyo
Seaman Apprentice
Joined: 10 Sep 2004
Posts: 85
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| Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 9:58 pm Post subject: Merry Christmas |
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| On this day, after we thank God, we thank our Soldiers, old and new, retired and serving, and those who gave their life. God gave us life and you soldiers have protected us against the greatest evils every day. So on this day I say Thank You and wish you God speed, hope you will be home soon, hope you will be safe from harm, and wish your family, peace and love. |
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carpro
Admin
Joined: 10 May 2004
Posts: 1176
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Tue Dec 26, 2006 10:01 pm Post subject: |
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A belated Merry Christmas to you all!
And to all those who prefer "Happy Hollidays", Merry Christmas to you as well. 
_________________
"If he believes his 1971 indictment of his country and his fellow veterans was true, then he couldn't possibly be proud of his Vietnam service." |
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GenrXr
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Joined: 05 Aug 2004
Posts: 1720
Location: Houston
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| Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 6:02 pm Post subject: |
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| carpro wrote: | A belated Merry Christmas to you all!
And to all those who prefer "Happy Hollidays", Merry Christmas to you as well. |
hehe
_________________
"An activist is the person who cleans up the water, not the one claiming its dirty."
"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to stand by and do nothing." Edmund Burke (1729-1797), Founder of Conservative Philosophy |
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Navy_Navy_Navy
Admin
Joined: 07 May 2004
Posts: 5777
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| Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 7:24 pm Post subject: |
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We were lucky enough to finally have my son home on leave for Christmas.
The other son and my daughter and I sing in the church choir - well, I should say, they sing.
I just make a joyful noise and hope that somewhere in there, I hit some of the right notes. 
We had concerts and rehearsals four nights of the last week, then morning mass and midnight mass on Sunday, so it was a crazy week, but wonderful!
I wish everyone's was even better than mine. 
Happy Third Day of Christmas!
_________________
~ Echo Juliet ~
Altering course to starboard - On Fire, Keep Clear
Navy woman, Navy wife, Navy mother |
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