My best to everyone in the forum, I count you all as Friends. My best to you and your families this Holiday Season.

I spent many a year away from my family on Christmas. If you have someone you know, family or friend, stationed overseas, please remember them and give them the best from all of us here at the forum.

Smokin'Okie, U.S.Air Force Retired

IF you have a friend or family stationed oversea, if you would, please post their name here so we can think of them personally

I know it's not BBQ, but as the Forum Moderator, I can break our "non" BBQ rules once a year. I've been sending this our for years to my friends via email, but I don't have everyone's here.

This takes on special meaning this year with many in the forum with Family and Friends stationed overseas fighting the War on Terrorism. Give them our best and thank them, from each of us here at the forum.

I wanted all my CS Forum Friends to think about those who aren't home tonight with their families, they're out protecting our freedoms.

To all my Forum Friends, have a Happy Holidays

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 THE 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 SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM 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 THESE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED 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,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS 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. The following is his request. I think it is reasonable.....

PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S. service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities.

Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your small part to plant this small seed.

This song says it so well:
http://www.worldwar1.com/sfcitt.htm

SmokinOkie....Thank you for your service to our country and the wonderful holiday post. I will pass this along to my family and friends. And many thanks to those stationed here and abroad, who have chosen to serve. Happy Holidays! ibspy

Thank You SmokinOkie,

I have a couple of guy's I work with that is in the armed forces (reserves) one of them went to Iraq about 8 month's ago.He came back wounded about 2 months later,he is now disabled.He is in his mid 20's.He is to be commended for his bravery.His name is Chris Lunsford.
I also have another friend I work with that is in the National Guard Reserves that is over there now,His name is Phillip Tollabert.My heart & prayers go out to all that serve in one way or another to protect this loving world.God Bless you all & Merry Christmas.I also have a nephew that is in the Air Force & is stationed in Georgia that went over & done his part also,& is now back on our side of the pond.His name is Kenneth Poole.
Thank You All & God Bless

Richard

My sisters Son (only Child)

Matthew Avilia, Air force stationed in Alaska, just returned from his tour in Iraq.

Merry Christmas

I need to add that while I post this every year, my son-in-law is stationed overseas in Korea and away from my daughter and grand-daughter this year -- first time they're apart.

Got a friend in Iraq, Michael McChristian, doing his second tour there. Mike has a wife and newborn baby girl here. Baby was about two weeks old when he went back. They sure need him here but Mike loves his country and truly believes in the cause.

Pause for a moment and say a prayer for them and all those left behind.

God bless them all!

I have a nephew (Thomas Keys 20 years old )in Iraq. His Grandmother , my sister , is in very bad health. I am not sure she will make it. She was a mother to Thomas but they will not let him come home to see her which I do understand. It must be your mother or father. She raised him as her own son. He is having a very hard time with her illness . We will find out in the morning if the tests she is having will improve but the Doctor is not very encouraging. Please pray for my sister and for my nephew . Thanks from the Old Coacher

Our prayers and gratitude to those serving our Nation while we enjoy a safe holiday.Larry and Kathy

Merry Christmas from Germany. We are here visiting our son for Christmas. He returned from Iraq a few months ago and is now in S.W. Germany at a base outside of Bitburg. This has been a cool Christmas in more than one way.. it can get cold over here.. This is Christmas morning, a number of hours ahead of you on the east coast.. and even more than my roots on the crazy coast. It is the first time I have seen part of the sky since we've been here. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the sun peeked out. Spent some time visiting the traditional Christmas Markets but we arrived a bit too late in the season, by one day, to see the famous ones.

No "q" this year for Christmas.. but we do have a spiral cut ham.. that'll be good with the trimmings.

Looking forward to getting back to the states.. which will be the 28th.. Lord willing.

Bill

Good morning, all. Since this is about those serving overseas I won't post my son's name, because he returned safely from Iraq three or four weeks ago. I do have a suggestion, however. There is always some danger and they are homesick for family, but one of the worst aspects of being in Iraq for my son was boredom. They truly look forward to local newspapers and magazines, letters, cards and e-mail messages (they do have periodic access to e-mail). I would encourage you to call your local National Guard unit or contact your congressman and find the name of just one person to correspond with. My son was fortunate enough to have a Sooner fan who he never met send him clippings on Sooner football. It just made his days better. I am carrying on that tradition now. Give it a try, it will only take ten minutes a week and you will brighten some soldier's day.

Merry Christmas, Russ and forum members.

Bill