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Dec
24
A Christmas Poem Video
Filed Under American Patriotism | Comments Off on A Christmas Poem Video
-Written by Michael Marks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_P6yU_ymFM
Dec
23
Twelve Days of Christmas Military Style
Filed Under Christmas | Comments Off on Twelve Days of Christmas Military Style
-by Janet J. Seahorn
Wow, this is our last blog before Christmas as 2009 comes to an end. There is so much for which to be thankful, and yet, much left to be done in mending the bodies, hearts, and minds of the many individuals who served our country, past and present. Therefore, I thought I’d put together a humorous version of why the “Twelve Days of Christmas” could really irritate the heck out of anyone suffering with PTSD.
Day One: A Partridge in a Pear Tree. Who in the heck cares about a partridge in pear tree?
Day Two: Two turtle doves — Now these can be very helpful with their soothing cooing. I just love turtle doves.
Day Three: Three French Hens – Great for a family barbecue.
Day Four: Four Calling Birds — Exactly, what is a “Calling Bird”? For someone challenged with PTSD, all that noise can be a little disconcerting.
Day Five: Five Golden Rings — This would be a great Christmas bonus from Uncle Sam for services rendered above and beyond the call of duty.
Day Six: Six Geese a Laying — Unless these geese are laying Golden Eggs, they go on the barbecue with the Three French Hens. You can then feed your entire neighborhood.
Day Seven: Seven Swans a Swimming — Since I happen to like swans and their awesome beauty, they would be a great addition to any backyard, given one has enough acreage to build a pretty big pond paid for by the Five Golden Rings.
Day Eight: Eight Maids a Milking — You know, I am not even going to touch this one…
Day Nine: Nine Ladies Dancing — See above. What is so interesting about the “Twelve Days” is the move from a lot of birds to a lot of women. Go figure.
Day Ten: Ten Lords a Leaping — Military serving in Afghanistan know about this one.
Day Eleven: Eleven Pipers Piping — Add these to all the birds and you have a true recipe for a disturbing and irritating experience.
Day Twelve: Twelve Drummers Drumming — Wow, if you didn’t lose it with the birds plus the Leaping Lords, and the Piping Pipers, you will now.
In all seriousness, we wish you and your loved ones a blessed Holiday and a New Year filled with good health and happiness. You deserve it.
Dec
8
A Different Christmas Poem
Filed Under American Patriotism, Christmas, Life, Today's War | 1 Comment
by Michael Marks
The embers glowed softly, and in their dim 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.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn’t loud, and it wasn’t too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn’t quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
“What are you doing?” I asked without fear,
“Come in this moment, it’s freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!”
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire’s light
Then he sighed and he said “Its really all right,
I’m out here by choice. I’m here every night.”
“It’s my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I’m proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ‘ Pearl on a day in December,”
Then he sighed, “That’s a Christmas ‘Gram always remembers.”
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ‘ Nam ‘,
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I’ve not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he’s sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue… an American flag.
“I can live through the cold and the 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 weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.”
“So go back inside,” he said, “harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I’ll be all right.”
“But isn’t there something I can do, at the least,
“Give you money,” I asked, “or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you’ve done, For
being away from your wife and your son.”
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret, “
Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we’re gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.
Please, would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let’s try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.
LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Dec
1
Silent, Holy Night
Filed Under Events, Life, Light A Candle, PTSD | Comments Off on Silent, Holy Night
Hard to believe that another Christmas season is now upon us. The beautiful lights and carols, the festive decorations, the fun of being with family and friends, and the craziness of shopping that can be more NO, NO, NO, than HO, HO, HO.
With all of the splendor and frenzied activities of the holidays, PTSD and dealing with other wounds of war can be a daunting challenge for many vets.
There is this incredible Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde phenomenon that occurs for many this time of year. The joy of being home with loved ones along with the constant struggle to breathe through the nightmares and panic attacks.
Crowded shopping centers, constant bustle everywhere, and traffic jams that defy the patience of the calmest celestial being are not so wonderful for frayed and fragile nerves.
Perhaps the only gift many of our wounded warriors pray for is Peace. Peace on Earth, Peace across all continents, and most of all, Peace within oneself.
It is for this reason that we created a special tribute to our veterans and their families. During this blessed Holiday Season, let us take a few moments to remember the sacrifice of our military – both past and current – and their families.
May each night truly be a peaceful Silent, Holy Night.
Click on the link below to view our special Christmas tribute.