Free Republic
Browse · Search
VetsCoR
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The Freeper Foxhole - Christmas 2006 - December 25th, 2006

Posted on 12/25/2006 2:37:02 AM PST by snippy_about_it





Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.



...................................................................................... ...........................................

U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues

Where Duty, Honor and Country
are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.

Our Mission:

The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans.

In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support.

The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer.

If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions.

We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.

To read previous Foxhole threads or
to add the Foxhole to your sidebar,
click on the books below.

Merry Christmas Everyone




As we celebrate another Christmas in the United States, please take a moment to remember those that gave up spending Christmas with their family and friends so that we may enjoy our Christmas in peace.



********
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 didn't 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 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 without 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 "Its really all right,

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 or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "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've not seen my own 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, and 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 in 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," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there 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 mattered to us."






FReeper Foxhole Armed Services Links




TOPICS: VetsCoR
KEYWORDS: freeperfoxhole; history; merrychristmas; veterans
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-89 next last
To: snippy_about_it; PAR35; Cindy; The Mayor; Soaring Feather; Samwise; Professional Engineer; ...


Merry Christmas to all our Foxhole FReeper Friends!!
Hope Santa treated you all well

Hi manna!!

21 posted on 12/25/2006 6:46:22 AM PST by SAMWolf (To learn about paranoids, follow them around)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: snippy_about_it; SAMWolf; All

Have a blessed Christmas, everybody.


22 posted on 12/25/2006 6:54:50 AM PST by steveegg (Have a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: snippy_about_it; SAMWolf; Soaring Feather; Professional Engineer; Samwise; Peanut Gallery; ...

December 25, 2006

A Fitting Present

READ: Matthew 2:11-15

Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God. —Romans 12:1

A little boy was somewhat perplexed by all the exchanging of presents on Christmas morning, for he had been taught in Sunday school that it was the birthday of the Savior. Finally, after a long period of silence, he asked, “Mommy, when are we going to give Jesus His present? I thought it was His birthday!”

Strange, isn’t it, that most of us give gifts to everyone but the One whose birthday we celebrate. A good question we might ask ourselves is this: What am I going to give to the Lord Jesus this Christmas? If you have never trusted in Him as your Savior, the thing He desires most from you is a believing heart. Why not put your faith in Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross so you can be saved from your sins?

If by faith you already know Christ as your Savior, then the most wonderful thing you can do this Christmas is to present to God the one gift He most desires to receive from you—your body (Rom. 12:1).

Our bodies are to be used for God’s purposes. Because we have accepted the gift of salvation from Him, it’s only reasonable that we should present ourselves to the Father. When we give ourselves, we give the one Christmas present that truly fits the occasion! Richard De Haan

What shall I give for Christmas
To Him who gave Himself for me?
To Him I give my life, my love,
For time and for eternity.  —Anon.

Give your all to Christ; He gave His all for you.

23 posted on 12/25/2006 7:07:15 AM PST by The Mayor ( http://albanysinsanity.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SAMWolf

BTTT


24 posted on 12/25/2006 7:07:40 AM PST by E.G.C.
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: snippy_about_it
THANKS, snippy!

MERRY CHRISTMAS to YOU & yours.

free dixie,sw

25 posted on 12/25/2006 7:16:37 AM PST by stand watie ("Resistance to tyrants is OBEDIENCE to God." - T. Jefferson, 1804)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: snippy_about_it; SAMWolf; Samwise; alfa6; Soaring Feather; Cannoneer No. 4; PhilDragoo; Valin; ...

Merry Christmas all!

BTW, Spiderboy doesn't know this yet. In addition to the AirSoft pistol Santa brought, Uncle Chris brought a new 22 rifle for Spiderboy. Oh boy, oh boy.


26 posted on 12/25/2006 9:33:02 AM PST by Professional Engineer (As far as we know, all numbers are imaginary. some just hurt your brain more than others. ~ lepton)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: snippy_about_it; SAMWolf; Professional Engineer; alfa6; Cannoneer No. 4; stand watie
A CHRISTMAS FULL OF HOPE TO ALL FOXHOLE FRIENDS AT HOME AND ON THE FRONT LINE

December 24, 1983 on board the USS New Jersey BB-62 off the coast of Beirut, Lebanon for the Christmas Eve USO
show. With Bob are from left to right; Miss USA Judy Hyek, Cathy Lee Crosby, Ann Jillian and Brooke Shields.

27 posted on 12/25/2006 9:55:18 AM PST by PhilDragoo (Hitlery: das Butch von Buchenvald)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Professional Engineer

Now spiderboy can protect you from Black Bart.
28 posted on 12/25/2006 9:56:45 AM PST by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul. WWPD (what would Patton do))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: PhilDragoo

There's no one like Bob Hope.

Merry Christmas Phil.


29 posted on 12/25/2006 9:58:17 AM PST by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul. WWPD (what would Patton do))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: steveegg

Merry Christmas!


30 posted on 12/25/2006 9:59:03 AM PST by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul. WWPD (what would Patton do))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: manna
HI MANNA!
31 posted on 12/25/2006 10:00:18 AM PST by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul. WWPD (what would Patton do))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Soaring Feather

Beautiful miss feather, Merry Christmas.


32 posted on 12/25/2006 10:00:47 AM PST by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul. WWPD (what would Patton do))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: The Mayor

Thank you Mayor, Merry Christmas.


33 posted on 12/25/2006 10:01:47 AM PST by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul. WWPD (what would Patton do))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: stand watie

Merry Christmas and Hugs!


34 posted on 12/25/2006 10:02:40 AM PST by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul. WWPD (what would Patton do))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: PhilDragoo
"can you say BIG HAIR, children???"

"SURE, you CAN!"

free dixie,sw

35 posted on 12/25/2006 10:06:24 AM PST by stand watie ("Resistance to tyrants is OBEDIENCE to God." - T. Jefferson, 1804)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: snippy_about_it; All
suggestion for Christmas (from my long-departed Grandmother):

BRAID a sprig of mistletoe into your hair.

do that & you MAY just have the most romantic night of your life!!!

free dixie,sw

36 posted on 12/25/2006 10:08:47 AM PST by stand watie ("Resistance to tyrants is OBEDIENCE to God." - T. Jefferson, 1804)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: stand watie

Ooooh. I like that idea. We are enjoying our first Christmas in Dixie.


37 posted on 12/25/2006 10:11:12 AM PST by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul. WWPD (what would Patton do))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: snippy_about_it
my grandmother (who was NO "pussycat", btw!====> she used to get JAILED frequently for being a SUFFERAGETTE & an OK Teacher's Union organizer!) suggested that to young grrls of our tribe.

a NUMBER of proposals ensued. i can't say IF that CAUSED the proposals/propositions or not, BUT like "chicken soup" it cannot hurt!

free dixie,sw

38 posted on 12/25/2006 10:16:52 AM PST by stand watie ("Resistance to tyrants is OBEDIENCE to God." - T. Jefferson, 1804)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: snippy_about_it
btw, WELCOME to dixie's land!!!

free dixie HUGS,sw

39 posted on 12/25/2006 10:17:55 AM PST by stand watie ("Resistance to tyrants is OBEDIENCE to God." - T. Jefferson, 1804)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: Professional Engineer

Merry Merry PE, here's a little game for big kids. LOL




http://www.dontshootyoureyeout.com/


40 posted on 12/25/2006 10:30:29 AM PST by Soaring Feather (I Soar, cause I can....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-89 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
VetsCoR
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson