Christmas Leave

Okay not a lot to say tonight and a lot to say tonight.

Yah figure that one out. There is just some things that I wanted to post tonight because for the first time in a very long time I am looking forward to Christmas. I am heading home to KW for the next week to spend Christmas with my family and friends, and for this I am very grateful. Then something caught my eye in the news and I started to think about some things; mostly about work; kind of. I mean what it was like for me the one year I wasn’t able to make it home for Christmas and what it must be like for the guys that can’t make it home this year.

So as a little bit of a tribute to them I am posting a poem that has been floating around the web for a long time. There is also a list of all the Canadian soldiers who won’t be making it home for Christmas ever again. So when you sit down with your family to your Turkey dinner think about all the men and women who laid down their lives so you could have your Christmas dinner and the ones that are out there right now continuing the fight for your right to have that dinner and the rights of others for that same freedom.

Merry Christmas

Canadian Soldier’s Christmas

T’was the night before Christmas
He lived all alone,
In a one bedroom house made of
Plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney
With presents to give
and to see just who
In this home did live

I looked all about
A strange sight I did see,
No tinsel, no presents,
Not even a tree.

No stockings by the mantle
Just boots filled with sand,
On the wall hung pictures
Of far distant lands.

With medals and badges
Awards of all kinds,
A sobering thought
Came through my mind,

For this house was different
It was dark and dreary,
I had found the home of a soldier

Once I could see clearly,
The soldier lay sleeping
Silent, alone
Curled up on the floor
In this one bedroom home,

The face was so gentle
The room in disorder,
Not how I pictured
A Canadian Soldier.

Was this the hero
Of whom I just read?
Curled up on a poncho
The floor for his bed?

I realized the families That I saw this night,
Owed their Lives to these Soldiers
Who were willing to fight.

Soon round the world
The children would play,
and grown ups would celebrate
A bright Christmas Day.

They all enjoyed freedom
each month of the year,
Because of these soldiers
Like the one lying here.

I couldn’t help but wonder
How many lay alone?
On a cold Christmas eve
In a land far from home.

The very thought
Brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees
and started to cry.

The soldier awakened
And 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 Corp.

The soldier rolled over
And drifted to sleep,
I couldn’t control it
I continued to weep

I kept watch for hours
So silent and still,
And we both shivered
From the cold night’s chill.

I didn’t want to leave
On that cold, dark night,
This guardian of honour
So Willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over
With a voice soft and pure,
Whispered “Carry on Santa
It’s Christmas day, All’s secure”.

One look at my watch
and I knew he was right,
“Merry Christmas my friend,
And to all a good night”.

Chief Warrant Officer Robert Girouard

Cpl. Albert Storm

Sgt. Darcy Tedford

Pte. Blake Williamson

Trooper Mark Andrew Wilson

Sgt. Craig Paul Gillam

Cpl. Robert Thomas James Mitchell

Pte. Josh Klukie

Pte. David Byers

Cpl. Glen Arnold

Cpl. Shane Keating

Cpl. Keith Morley

Private Mark Anthony Graham

Sgt. Shane Stachnik

Warrant Officer Frank Robert Mellish

Warrant Officer Richard Francis Nolan

Pte. William Jonathan James Cushley

Cpl. David Braun

Cpl. Andrew James Eykelenboom

Master Cpl. Jeffrey Scott Walsh

Master Cpl. Raymond Arndt

Sgt. Vaughn Ingram

Cpl. Bryce Jeffrey Keller

Pte. Kevin Dallaire

Cpl. Christopher Jonathan Reid

Cpl. Francisco Gomez

Cpl. Jason Patrick Warren

Cpl. Anthony Boneca

Capt. Nichola Goddard

Cpl. Matthew Dinning

Bombardier Myles Mansell

Lt. William Turner

Cpl. Randy Payne

Pte. Robert Costall

Cpl. Paul Davis

Master Cpl. Timothy Wilson

Diplomat Glyn Berry

Pte. Braun Scott Woodfield

Cpl. Jamie Brendan Murphy

Sgt. Robert Alan Short

Cpl. Robbie Christopher Beerenfenger

Sgt. Marc D. Leger