Dreamingaboutyou's blog: "Something to think about"

Some may have already read this but is always worth repeating even though it's about Christmas the time is always appropriate... Best Wishes for My Fellow Vets!!!! This carries a copy right but as long as you include the credit at the end, please do pass it on... T'was the night before Christmas, he lived all alone, In a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone. I came down the chimney with presents to give to see in this dwelling, who really did live. As I looked all about, strange sights I did see, no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree. No stockings were hung, just boots filled with sand, the wall had pictures, of strange far off lands. Shelves stuffed with medals, awards of all kinds, when a sobering thought, smashed into my mind. This house was distinct, unlike any I'd seen. This house was the home, of a U.S. Marine. The stories I read, now I had to see more, so I walked through the hall, then pushed open the door. Silently sleeping, he laid all alone, Curled on the floor, in his one bedroom home. He seemed so gentle, his face so serene; this was not my concept, of a U.S. Marine. Was this the hero, of whom I had read? In a poncho liner, a floor for his bed? His head was clean shaven, his weathered face tan. I soon understood, this was more than a man. I conclude the families, I call on tonight, owed their lives to these men, who are willing to fight. At day break the nation's, children would play. Adults would rejoice, on a bright Christmas day. They all enjoyed freedom, month long and all year, Because of Marines, - like the one lying here. Many Marines, rest cold and alone, on Christmas eve, in lands far from their homes. This thought struck me, brought tears to my eyes, I dropped to my knees and started to cry. He awoke to my sobs, for I heard his rough voice. " Santa don't cry, for this life is my choice. I fight for our freedom, and don't ask for more, My life is My Gods', - My Country and Corps!" "We have some leaders, who chose not to fight, they never experienced, deaths grip in the night. But that does not stop me - from doing my chore, For while I'm on duty, you're safe on these shores." I stood up and wiped, the tears with my hand, His dignity enough, to honor this man. This Guardian of Honor, so willing to fight, I remember his words on that cold Christmas night. He rose to his feet, and was soon standing tall, while I picked up my bag, I had dropped in the hall. He saluted then spoke, the words crisp and tight, "Merry Christmas my Friend, Semper Fi, and Goodnight!" Written by Gunnery Sergeant Anthony C. Hicks USMC Marine Corps Recruiting Station 181-198 West Gun Smoke Dodge City, KS 67801 Printed in Leatherneck Magazine USMC - December 1994

This carries a copy right but as long as you include the credit at the end, please do pass it on... T'was the night before Christmas, he lived all alone, In a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone. I came down the chimney with presents to give to see in this dwelling, who really did live. As I looked all about, strange sights I did see, no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree. No stockings were hung, just boots filled with sand, the wall had pictures, of strange far off lands. Shelves stuffed with medals, awards of all kinds, when a sobering thought, smashed into my mind. This house was distinct, unlike any I'd seen. This house was the home, of a U.S. Marine. The stories I read, now I had to see more, so I walked through the hall, then pushed open the door. Silently sleeping, he laid all alone, Curled on the floor, in his one bedroom home. He seemed so gentle, his face so serene; this was not my concept, of a U.S. Marine. Was this the hero, of whom I had read? In a poncho liner, a floor for his bed? His head was clean shaven, his weathered face tan. I soon understood, this was more than a man. I conclude the families, I call on tonight, owed their lives to these men, who are willing to fight. At day break the nation's, children would play. Adults would rejoice, on a bright Christmas day. They all enjoyed freedom, month long and all year, Because of Marines, - like the one lying here. Many Marines, rest cold and alone, on Christmas eve, in lands far from their homes. This thought struck me, brought tears to my eyes, I dropped to my knees and started to cry. He awoke to my sobs, for I heard his rough voice. " Santa don't cry, for this life is my choice. I fight for our freedom, and don't ask for more, My life is My Gods', - My Country and Corps!" "We have some leaders, who chose not to fight, they never experienced, deaths grip in the night. But that does not stop me - from doing my chore, For while I'm on duty, you're safe on these shores." I stood up and wiped, the tears with my hand, His dignity enough, to honor this man. This Guardian of Honor, so willing to fight, I remember his words on that cold Christmas night. He rose to his feet, and was soon standing tall, while I picked up my bag, I had dropped in the hall. He saluted then spoke, the words crisp and tight, "Merry Christmas my Friend, Semper Fi, and Goodnight!" Written by Gunnery Sergeant Anthony C. Hicks USMC Marine Corps Recruiting Station 181-198 West Gun Smoke Dodge City, KS 67801 Printed in Leatherneck Magazine USMC - December 1994

I got this as an email at work and decided to repost it here. Most of what's in this we should take to heart. John Glenn said this that should make you think a little: There were 39 combat related killings in Iraq in January. In the fair city of Detroit there were 35 murders in the month of January. That's just one American city, about as deadly as the entire war-torn country of Iraq. When some claim that President Bush shouldn't have started this war, state the following: a. FDR led us into World War II. b. Germany never attacked us; Japan did. From 1941-1945, 450,000 lives were lost ... an verage of 112,500 per year. c. Truman finished that war and started one in Korea North Korea never attacked us. From 1950-1953, 55,000 lives were lost … an average of 18,334 per year. d. John F. Kennedy started the Vietnam conflict in 1962. Vietnam never attacked us. e. Johnson turned Vietnam into a quagmire. From 1965-1975, 58,000 lives were lost … an average of 5,800 per year. f. Clinton went to war in Bosnia without UN or French consent. Bosnia never attacked us. He was offered Osama Bin Laden's head on a platter three times by Sudan and did nothing. Osama has attacked us on multiple occasions. g. In the years since terrorists attacked us, President Bush has liberated two countries, crushed the Taliban, crippled Al-Qaida, put nuclear inspectors in Libya , Iran , and, North Korea without firing a shot, and captured a terrorist who slaughtered 300,000 of his own people. The Democrats are complaining about how long the war is taking. But Wait It took less time to take Iraq than it took Janet Reno to take the Branch Davidian compound. That was a 51-day operation.. We've been looking for evidence for chemical weapons in Iraq for less time than it took Hillary Clinton to find the Rose Law Firm billing records. It took less time for the 3rd Infantry Division and the Marines to destroy the Medina Republican Guard than it took Ted Kennedy to call the police after his Oldsmobile sank at Chappaquiddick. It took less time to take Iraq than it took to count the votes in Florida!!! Our Commander-In-Chief is doing a GREAT JOB! The Military morale is high! The biased media hopes w e are too ignorant to realize the facts But Wait There's more! JOHN GLENN (on the Senate floor - January 26, 2004) Some people still don't understand why military personnel do what they do for a living. This exchange between Senators John Glenn and Senator Howard Metzenbaum is worth reading. Not only is it a pretty impressive impromptu speech, but it's also a good example of one man's explanation of why men and women in the armed services do what they do for a living. This IS a typical, though sad, example of what some who have never served think of the military. Senator Metzenbaum (speaking to Senator Glenn): "How can you run for Senate when you've never held a real job?" Senator Glenn (D-Ohio): "I served 23 years in the United States Marine Corps. I served through two wars. I flew 149 missions. My plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire on 12 different occasions. I was in the space program. It wasn't my checkbook, Howard; it was my life on the line. It was not a nine-to-five job, where I took time off to take the daily cash receipts to the bank." "I ask you to go with me … as I went the other day...to a veteran's hospital and look those men ... with their mangled bodies in the eye, and tell THEM they didn't hold a job! You go with me to the Space Program at NASA and go, as I have gone, to the widows and Orphans of Ed White, Gus Grissom and Roger Chaffee...and you look those kids in the eye and tell them that their DADS didn't hold a job. You go with me on Memorial Day and you stand in Arlington National Cemetery, where I have more friends buried than I'd like to remember, and you watch those waving flags. You stand there, and you think about this nation, and you tell ME that those people didn't have a job? What about you?" For those who don't remember During W.W.II, Howard Metzenbaum was an attorney representing the Communist Party in the USA Now he's a Senator! If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading it in English thank a Veteran. It might not be a bad idea to keep this circulating. I AM!!!