A Special Tribute

A Special Tribute to my Name Sake : 

A Special Tribute to my Name Sake And all that have served! A piece of my heart lies at Plot: 5-C 7 3, bur. 03/27/2000

For the Fallen… : 

For the Fallen…

For the Marines… : 

For the Marines…

For the Navy… : 

For the Navy…

For the Army… : 

For the Army…

For the Air Force… : 

For the Air Force…

For the Coast Guard : 

For the Coast Guard

For the Families… : 

For the Families…

Iwa Jima Memorial : 

Iwa Jima Memorial

Arlington in the Winter : 

Arlington in the Winter

Arlington in the Winter : 

Arlington in the Winter

A Soldiers Poem… : 

A Soldiers Poem… TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,THEY LIVED ALL ALONE,IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OFPLASTER AND STONE.I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEYWITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,AND TO SEE JUST WHOIN 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 PICTURESOF FAR DISTANT LANDS.WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,A SOBER THOUGHTCAME 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 FLOORIN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,NOT HOW I PICTUREDA UNITED STATES SOLDIER.WAS THIS THE HEROOF WHOM I'D JUST READ?CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,THE FLOOR FOR A BED?I REALIZED THE FAMILIESTHAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERSWHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT. SOON ROUND THE WORLD,THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATEA BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY. THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOMEACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

A Soldiers Poem cont… : 

A Soldiers Poem cont… I COULDN'T HELP WONDERHOW MANY LAY ALONE,ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVEIN A LAND FAR FROM HOME. THE VERY THOUGHTBROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,I DROPPED TO MY KNEESAND STARTED TO CRY. THE SOLDIER AWAKENEDAND 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 OVERAND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,I CONTINUED TO WEEP. I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,SO SILENT AND STILLAND WE BOTH SHIVEREDFROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL. I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVEON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,THIS GUARDIAN OF HONORSO 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,MAY GOD BLESS YOU THIS NIGHT," This poem is a reworked version from the original which was written by Lance Corporal James M. Schmidt stationed in Washington DC in 1986. Throughout the years a request has been added to theses words. Please share these heart warming words with your friends.  The Christmas season is here and a great deal of credit is due to our U.S. service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities.

For those still serving… : 

For those still serving… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Pnw06SOYZ4