Al was a hero, a combat wounded Vietnam veteran, awarded the Purple Heart. Given the recent holidays, the following comes to mind when I think of Al's service to us and the nation:
A Veteran’s Christmas Gift
The embers glowed softly,
In the warm fire's 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.
The snow softly fell,
In a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard,
Into winter delight.
The sparkle of lights,
In the tree, I believe,
Completed the magic,
That was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy,
My breathing was deep,
Securely surrounded,
By love did I sleep,
In perfect contentment,
Or so it would seem,
I slumbered ‘til midnight,
And started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud,
And it didn’t seem near.
I opened my eyes,
When I thought I could hear,
A feint sigh or whisper,
I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps
Outside in the snow!
My hand gave a tremble.
I squinted to peer,
And crept to the window
To see who was there.
Outside in the darkness,
In shadowy light,
A lone figure stood.
Was it Santa tonight?
”A soldier!” I gasped.
Some twenty years old,
A Marine standing guard!
In the harsh winter cold.
He looked up alone,
In the darkness and smiled.
“I’ve come to protect you,
Your wife and your child.”
"What are you doing?"
I asked without fear,
"Come in here this minute!
It's freezing out there!
There’s snow on your helmet,
Your shoulder and sleeve.
You should be at home.
It is Christmas Eve!"
He turned from the cold,
And the snowy white drift,
He stared in my eyes,
Then I saw his eyes shift.
He gazed at the fire,
And Christmas tree lights,
”I'm here by my choice,
And I come every night.
It’s my duty to serve,
On the front of the lines,
That separate you,
From the darkest of times.
No one has asked me,
Or begged me, implored me,
Just proud to be standing,
Like my fathers before me.
Great Grampa, he died,
In the trenches in France,
And Grampa enlisted,
When he got the chance.
He died on a ship,
At ‘Pearl’ one December,
A Christmas my Gramma,
Would always remember.
My Dad stood his watch,
In the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it's my turn,
So now here I am.
I've not seen my son,
For quite a long while.
My wife sends me pictures.
He's sure got her smile."
He knelt down and carefully,
Pulled from his bag,
The Red, White and Blue,
The American flag.
"I can suffer the heartache,
Of 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 burden,
Of harming another.
I will lay down my life,
For my sister and brother,
I’ll defend against enemies,
Any and all,
To ensure that forever,
This flag will not fall.
Now go back inside,
And harbor no fright.
Your family is waiting,
And I'll be all right."
I asked "Is there something,
I can do to repay,
Especially now,
On this harsh Christmas Day?
It just seems too little,
For what you have done,
For being away,
From your wife and your son."
His eye welled a tear,
That held no regret.
“Just show us your love,
And never forget.
For when we come home,
Be it living or dead,
We ask you remember,
We fought and we bled.
That’s payment enough,
And by that we will trust,
We matter to you,
As you matter to us.
Watch over our homeland,
Back at home while we're gone,
And stand your own watch,
No matter how long.
Together we stand,
And divided we fall.
Now sleep with your loved ones,
And wake standing tall.”
As I turned from the window,
My heart in my throat,
I reached in the closet
To don a warm coat.
I walked to the doorway,
Knowing best how to pay.
I stood watch with my hero,
Throughout Christmas Day.
Jim Brady
Key West, FL
