An MT Christmas Poem

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SOLDIERS NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS"

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"Merry Christmas, My Friend" by LCpl James M Schmidt, USMC, 1986

Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,

In a one bedroom house made of plaster & stone.

I had come down the chimney, with presents to give

and to see just who in this home did live

As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,

no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.

No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand.

On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land.

With medals and badges, awards of all kind,

a sobering thought soon came to my mind.

For this house was different, unlike any I'd seen.

This was the home of a U.S. Marine.

I'd heard stories about them, I had to see more,

so I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.

And there he lay sleeping, silent, alone,

Curled up on the floor in his one-bedroom home.

He seemed so gentle, his face so serene,

Not how I pictured a U.S. Marine.

Was this the hero, of whom I'd just read?

Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?

His head was clean-shaven, his weathered face tan.

I soon understood, this was more than a man.

For I realized the families that I saw that night,

owed their lives to these men, who were willing to fight.

Soon around the Nation, the children would play,

And grown-ups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.

They all enjoyed freedom, each month and all year,

because of Marines like this one lying here.

I couldn't help wonder how many lay alone,

on a cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home.

Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye.

I dropped to my knees and I started to cry.

He must have awoken, for 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."

With that he rolled over, drifted off into sleep,

I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.

I watched him for hours, so silent and still.

I noticed he shivered from the cold night's chill.

So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,

and covered this Marine from his toes to his head.

Then I put on his T-shirt of scarlet and gold,

with an eagle, globe and anchor emblazoned so bold.

And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride,

and for one shining moment, I was Marine Corps deep inside.

I didn't want to leave him so quiet in the night,

this guardian of honor so willing to fight.

But half asleep he rolled over, and in a voice clean and pure,

said "Carry on, Santa, it's Christmas Day, all secure."

One look at my watch and I knew he was right,

Merry Christmas my friend, Semper Fi and goodnight.

PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as may people
as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and we should all be aware of
where credit for our being able to celebrate these festivities is due.
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

I posted this same message on Company Board in hopes someone could help me find this.......

I have been searching for a poem that I received in a Medware newsletter several years ago when I worked for them. It was about MTing, the terms and such. The only thing I can remember about it was the ending which went something like but my favorite term has to be a toenailectomy. I am not sure if that is it exactly but it was similar. It was a fairly length poem and was pretty funny.

I have looked through all of my files and cannot find it anywhere. I have moved since I got it so it may have been thrown away. I have a friend who is an MT and she is retiring from the hospital she works for and would like to give it to her if I can.

I thought one of you good people might happen to know what I am talking about. If anyone does, could you please e-mail it to me. I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks, Sheri, for your uplifting message. It is, after all, CHRISTmas--not Happy Holidays like so many merchants around here are saying. It seems that they are benefiting from all the customers purchasing CHRISTmas gifts, don't you think?

First I think all families are a bit dysfunctional. I say this from experience, I could tell you stories that would make your family probably seem normal. As a born again Christian for 30 some years now, I would have to argue with your nephew. It sounds like he may belong to a way out church or cult. Being married or single does not get you to heaven according to my Bible (King James Version). John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

I believe is this, God made the way very simple, it is people who add things and try to make it complicated.

You might ask him if he thinks the apostle Paul made it to heaven? He was not married and actually he thought it better for a church worker not to be married because they could dedicate themselves to God.

1 Peter 3:15
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Some Christian forget that people find God through love, not being beat over the head. It doesn't sound like your nephew is being meek, but a Bully. This is not God's way. God is a gentleman, who knock on the door of peoples hearts and waits for them to answer. He does not break down the door. He created us with free will, he is not going to force himself on us.
Good Luck.

We are a family of 4, kids age 2 and 5. We also buy for my family (mom, dad, 3 sisters, brother) and his family kids (6 of them) and then we do 2 $25 gifts to exchange in a game. Just wondering what everyone's budget looks like and what everyone spends. We will probably spend about $1200 this year. Is this outrageous? It seems like a lot, but yes, our kids are spoiled

Someone just sent me this web page and my kids loved it. Has music attached to the web page too.

I have five accounts and usually get an average of a month's pay. anywhere from 1700 to 200 per account.

Decorate more than 1 Christmas tree around your house. My cousin has 7. I'm right now at 4 just cuz I like to do different things and I still have 1 that I'm deciding on for the basement. I have a small fiber optic that has nativity ornaments, a 4-foot fiber optic that is an angel tree, a green (just lights) tree, and my regular 6 foot all the good old hand made and little kids ornaments. So I'm wondering are we the only crazy ones or do other people have more than 1.

There was an employee who stated she was an atheist. She was very persistent in boycotting anything to do with CHRISTmas. Guess what? She was the first one with her hand open when it came time to pass out CHRISTmas bonuses. She also wrote "holiday pay" on her time card for CHRISTmas day. Hmmmm...

Merry Christmas EVERYONE! Wow, Sheri, I am so happy to see that the owner of this board shares the same beliefs that I do.

I am sick of the people having to say CHRISTmas to get their point across. We all know what Christmas is without all that ___.