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In Loving Memory Of My Husband
Bill Boatwright
10/22/36-03/31/87
During the
past week you have read some or all of this many times, so have
I. But each time it was a bit more special, the heart-wrenching
story of a man who gave all, even his pride, for the thank you
many of us forgot to give.
'TWAS
THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
'Twas 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 did I see:
No tinsel,
no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking
by mantle, just boots...filled with sand,
On the wall
hung pictures of a far distant land.
With medals
and badges, awards of all kinds,
A sober thought
came 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 floor in this one-bedroom home.
The face
was so gentle, the room in such disorder,
Not how I
pictured a United States soldier.
Was this
the hero of whom I'd just read?
Curled up
on a poncho, the floor for a 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 grownups
would celebrate a bright Christmas Day.
They all
enjoyed freedom each month of the year,
Because of
the soldiers, like the one lying here.
I couldn't
help 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 I 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 night's cold chill.
I didn't
want to leave on that cold, dark, night
This guardian
of honor so 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, and to all a Good Night."
This poem
was written by an unknown Marine stationed in Okinawa, Japan.
He would like all of us to remember that Christmas is coming up
soon and our freedom to celebrate is due largely to the many U.S.
service men and women who, because they have chosen to serve for
us, will not be here this year. They ask for nothing, let's give
them a prayer.
"This is Dedicated to ALL Who Have Served"
"ARMY"
"NAVY"
"AIR FORCE"
"MARINES"
"Honoring Those Who Served"
Bill Boatwright "Army 03/1953-03/74 Ret\Dec"
Christopher T Galloway "Army"
Raymond Hammond "Marines"
Dorsey Clark "Army WWII"
Parks M Clark "Navy WWII Korea Vietnam"
Richard Wood "Navy WWII Korea Vietnam"
Don Campbell "Navy Korea"
Jack Spry "Army Retired"
Ray Spry "Army Retired"
Roy V.Spry Sr."Navy WWI"
Roy V.Spry Jr."Army WWII"
George H. Frye "Navy"
Tip Lefler "Army"
Bobby Trexler "Marines Retired"
Ervin Draughn "US Air Force 1966-1970"
Charlie Cleary "US Air Force 1966-1970"
Jackie Hellard "USMC Vietnam 1965-1969"
Ronnie Hellard "USMC Vietnam 1965-1969"
James Swicegood "Army WWII"
Bobby Clark "Air Force Korea"
Jasper Martin "Army Vietnam"
Richard Tabbert "Army Vietnam"
Jack Boatwright "Navy Vietnam"
Jack Gibson "Army Korea"
William Hurst "Marines WWII"
Jeffrey B Clark "Army Persian Gulf"
Dennis Wood "Army Retired"
Jeff Wood "Marines "
Andrew W Cruse Jr "Navy Okinawa WWII"
Bill Bushnell "Navy"
Garland Ward "Army WWII" POW
"In The Helmet Of The Soldier"
"The Doves Have Made A Nest"
Gary N Parker "Korea 1950 Army 38th Regiment
MIA/POW 11/1950"
"2004, Returned Home"
PARKER GARY N Serial Number=RA14330724 Branch=Infantry
Military Occupation Specialty=04745 Year of Birth=31 Race=Caucasian
State of Residence=NC County of Residence=Cabarrus
Unit=38th Inf Reg Division=2nd Inf Div Type of Unit=Inf Regt
Place of Casualty=North Korea Date of Casualty (yymmdd)=50 11 29
Type of Casualty=Captured, Died Nonbattle
Detail of Casualty=CAP/Captured
Group of Casualty=Captured, Died Nonbattle
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