December 8, 2009 — There are a number of different articles, poems, etc making the rounds on the Internet at this time of year that point to the sacrifices are armed forces make for our freedoms. Some are factual and some present some individuals view of what it must be like for the men and women that are making those sacrifices. Certainly A Different Christmas Poem is one of those that fits in one of these categories.
Snopes.com provides what one could say is the truth about this particular poem. What they have to say can be found here http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/glurge/different.asp. Regardless of who wrote this poem what is important is what it has to say and what it depicts. Read the poem (Snopes.com) for I believe it has deep meaning for those that wear the uniform of our armed forces and those that have worn the uniform and can proudly call themselves veterans.
During Christmas time 1970 my flight crew was in Utapao, Thailand flying missions in support of the war in Vietnam. Beginning on Dec 18th we flew eight straight 12-hour missions...the last ending on Christmas Day that year. There were 12 of us in that flight crew and we had a closeness of a family especially being away from our own loved ones at that time of year. Did we view our duty as the soldier depicted in the poem? While I cannot speak for the others, I can say with all honestly that I did not...at least not in that perspective. We knew we had a job to do and we did it. It kept us strong in purpose and in our togetherness. Could we have held the exact perspective of that lonely soldier standing guard on Christmas Eve? Yes we could have and maybe we did.
When I read A Different Christmas Poem the memories of Christmas 1970 came flooding back to me. On Dec 18th my daughter Kelly was born. I was notified of her birth by American Red Cross telegram after landing from our mission on the 23rd. I was so proud and happy. My crew, my extended family helped me celebrate. It was not until the following May that I first got to hold her. My story is not unique as we all have read or heard of the all too many similar stories. My point is that the poem and my own real life events helped me put this in the perspective of that lonely soldier.
There should be no doubt in any of our minds that this Christmas Eve there will be thousands and thousands of service men and women standing that lonely vigil. They are indeed lonely and scared. There should be no doubt that they want more than anything to be home with their families and loved ones and yet they stand that watch and do their duty. Regardless of your religious and political beliefs I ask that you remember these young men and women and if you pray or whatever guidance you seek...you ask that their safety be first...that they are held out of harms way...and that they soon return safely home. It's what really matters!
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Thank you, Terry for sharing this! Great job!
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