So This Is Christmas...

So This Is Christmas... SARASOTA, FL. (NS) - Well it's that time of the year again when people up North and across the Country make their annual trips to the Malls, Shopping Centers and other places to purchase gifts for Friends and Family... In case you haven't noticed, it'll be a white Christmas in a lot of places across America thanks to a series of back to back Snow storms that have recently struck... For some though Christmas means survival and just finding a place where they might get that free Christmas meal and maybe even a gift or two which could consist of a pair of socks or new underwear... I'm speaking of the Homeless Shelters across America like the Salvation Army and others. Those who have no home or no Family to go to usually find their way there at Christmas... Then there are those alone at home or in their apartments who have no one at Christmas. These people sometimes get lucky enough to be included in neighborhood Christmas events... For those who don't, they remain at home, alone, sometimes with a pet to keep them company on Christmas Day... So, this is Christmas and some people see what I've written about, but many have no clue since their World doesn't include knowledge of the people and events I've written about... For Duchess, Toby and myself, it'll be Christmas as usual here at home. I'll be laughing as I watch them try to tear open their presents which will have their favorite dog treats in them... Other than that, it's Football, Basketball and whatever else comes on TV for me on Christmas Day... Christmas is when you find out who your Friends really are by reading the Christmas cards you've been sent and who sent them... Not to forget who is at your front door when the doorbell rings if you're lucky enough to have visitors on Christmas Day... And for our brave Military men and women, being away from home at Christmas is no fun at all, speaking from personal experience... To honor them, I give you this... A poem written by MAJ Mark 'Zippo' Smith, USA, Ret., Viet Nam POW...

 

'THE LONELIEST TIME OF YEAR'...                     

                                                      
ITS THE LONELIEST TIME
FOR THE SOLDIER EVERY YEAR...

ESPECIALLY IN THAT PLACE              
WHERE LESSER MEN DO FEAR...  

WARS TAKE NO HIATUS     
FOR THE BIRTH OF THE LORD...                                                 
                                  
BUT NOT JUST ANOTHER DAY                        
FOR THE BRETHREN OF THE SWORD...                                               
                                   
WARRIORS THINK OF FAMILY                 
OF WARMTH ON A WINTRY NIGHT...                                                  
                                  
WHILE STANDING ON THE RAMPARTS     
POISED TO SLAY AND FIGHT... 

' PEACE ON EARTH, GOOD WILL TO MEN' 
BUT THE DAY BRINGS NO RESPITE...             
                                                      
 VOLUNTEERS HAVE COME TO ENTERTAIN
YET HE AND SHE MUST FACE THE NIGHT...                                                   
                                  
TAKE A MOMENT FOR THE SOLDIER              
ON THIS MOST BLESSED DAY...                                                       
                                 
AMONG YOUR JINGLE BELLS                       
TAKE THE TIME TO PRAY...                                                        
                                   
LORD ON YOUR BIRTHDAY                        
SMILE ON ANOTHER SON...                                                       
                                   
OR A DAUGHTER ON A ROAD 
IN THE LAND OF THE GUN...                                                       
                                
MAY THEY FEEL THE WARMTH                     
OF FAMILY ROUND A TREE...                                                          
                               
AS THEY RISK IT ALL         
TO MAKE OTHERS FREE...                                                         
                                
MERRY CHRISTMAS GOOD SOLDIER      
FOR YOU TONIGHT I PRAY...                                                        
                                   
THAT YOU MAY BE PROTECTED                     
ON EVERY SINGLE DAY...                                  
    
'ZIPPO'

God Bless each of you, Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to everybody and I hope Santa brings you everything you wanted... 'Matt' Matt Bruce Managing Editor News Sarasota Bradenton-Sarasota, Florida  USA News Sarasota.com Standing 100% Behind Our Nation's Firefighters...'Stay LOW'...