Moms who served

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Comment by Diana 21 hours ago

A Different Kind of Christmas Poem

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 did not 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 (20) 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 with-out 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 alright, 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 of beg or implore me,
My Gramps died at Pearl on a day in December, than he signed, 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 have not seen my 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 & 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 I 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 her said, harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and Ill be alright.

But isn’t their 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 matter to us.


This Poem was authored by:

LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment

Comment by Arwen 1 day ago

Nothing I would admit to, LOL.

Comment by Jill I on November 27, 2009 at 6:25pm

Have any pictures of you when you served?

Comment by Jill I on November 27, 2009 at 6:24pm

Oh my - I need to go recruit some Army Moms & dads.....feeling out numbered! ha!

Comment by SueS (ABF Mom) on November 26, 2009 at 9:43am

Happy Thanksgiving to ALL! Have enjoyed the 'discussion' about the branches of service!! Just will add that I NEVER could get my son to listen to me!! Ha Ha... really am glad he chose the Navy!!

Comment by Bobbi on November 26, 2009 at 8:06am

Jill, I'm not on the list. Here are my details: Navy, 1984-1988, CE2 - London, England Thanks Jill!

Comment by Arwen on November 24, 2009 at 1:53am

Jill, I'm not on the list. I served 1988-92 as a DC on the USS McKee AS-41

As for the predominance of veteran Navy moms here, is that a surprise? Would we really let our kids go into another service without a fight? And those other 10, well, they had smart kids. ;~D

The Navy RULES! (okay, sorry, my inner teenager got out there for a moment)

Comment by SueS (ABF Mom) on November 23, 2009 at 9:20pm

AntiM~ We have a book called Why Stop? It is about the historical markers along the highway! Love it! As for the truth or not.. not sure but certainly interesting read!

Comment by Anti M on November 23, 2009 at 6:38pm

Lynn, that is one of my favorite books. I got into it when I picked up my teaching certificate and they made me get a second BS as a history major instead of a psych major. I have the other book too, Lies Across America, about roadside monuments and such.

Comment by Jill I on November 23, 2009 at 6:15pm

Notice how many Navy vets - so few from other branches - interesting.

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