The staff of DeerLake Designs,
honoring veterans,
would like to thank all of our troops for their dedication and sacrifices.
Above all else,
soldiers want to come home. Yes -- they fight for their country and die
for their friends, but they live to come home. Most are afraid that they
will lose their girlfriends or wives - that everything will have changed
by the time they make it back.
Send a
little love tribute and encouragement to a soldier or veteran today.
Always remember that as “One Nation, Under God” the United States of
America is far, far removed from the turmoil and danger that is
experienced around the world on a daily basis, and that we are so very
blessed to live where we do - especially during the holiday season. The
closest that we have come to experiencing that turmoil and danger in
recent times were the events of September 11, 2001.
For this wonderful gift of peace and freedom we have only one person to
give thanks to – the American Soldier.
Remember that the men and women of the United States Military have
freely chosen to protect us and give us this gift.
It is a gift that can never be reciprocated in full, and only asks for
remembrance in return.
Many American Soldiers will not come home from their stations of turmoil
and danger around the world to be with their families and friends for
the holidays.
The American Soldier will stand steadfast and strong, continuing to
protect us and fight for freedom in places around the world with
conditions that we cannot even begin to imagine.
May God Bless them and their families, and may He hold them safe in His
arms until they come home again.
If you have any comments or
stories that you would like to share,
Please do send them Here
A SOLDIER'S CHRISTMAS STORY
'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."
WRITTEN By an UNKNOWN SOLDIER STATIONED IN OKINAWA
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