{"id":2892,"date":"2018-12-26T19:19:42","date_gmt":"2018-12-27T00:19:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/?p=2892"},"modified":"2018-12-26T19:19:42","modified_gmt":"2018-12-27T00:19:42","slug":"twas-the-night-before-christmas-for-the-soldier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/2018\/12\/twas-the-night-before-christmas-for-the-soldier\/","title":{"rendered":"Twas the Night Before Christmas for the soldier"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Christmas poem courtesy of Lance Corporal James M. Schmidt:<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2018Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,<\/em><\/p>\n

In a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone.<\/em><\/p>\n

I had come down his chimney with presents to give,<\/em><\/p>\n

And to see just who in this home did live.<\/em><\/p>\n

I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,<\/em><\/p>\n

No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

No stocking by mantle, just boots filled with sand,<\/em><\/p>\n

And on the wall pictures of far distant lands.<\/em><\/p>\n

With medals and badges, awards of all kinds,<\/em><\/p>\n

A sobering thought came to my mind.<\/em><\/p>\n

For this house was different, so dark and so dreary,<\/em><\/p>\n

The home of a soldier, now I could see clearly.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone,<\/em><\/p>\n

Curled up on the floor in this one bedroom home.<\/em><\/p>\n

The face was so gentle, the room in such disorder,<\/em><\/p>\n

Not how I pictured a United States soldier.<\/em><\/p>\n

Was this the hero of whom I\u2019d just read?<\/em><\/p>\n

Curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed?<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I realized the families that I saw this night,<\/em><\/p>\n

Owed their lives to these soldiers who were willing to fight.<\/em><\/p>\n

Soon around the world, the children would play,<\/em><\/p>\n

And grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas day.<\/em><\/p>\n

They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year,<\/em><\/p>\n

Because of the soldiers, like the one lying here.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I couldn\u2019t help wonder how many lay alone,<\/em><\/p>\n

On a cold Christmas eve in a land far from home.<\/em><\/p>\n

The very thought brought a tear to my eye,<\/em><\/p>\n

I dropped to my knees and started to cry.<\/em><\/p>\n

The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice,<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSanta don\u2019t cry, this life is my choice;<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I fight for freedom, I don\u2019t ask for more,<\/em><\/p>\n

My life is my God, my country, my corps.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The soldier rolled over and soon drifted to sleep,<\/em><\/p>\n

I couldn\u2019t control it, I continued to weep.<\/em><\/p>\n

I kept watch for hours, so silent and still,<\/em><\/p>\n

And we both shivered from the cold evening\u2019s chill.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t want to leave on that cold, dark night,<\/em><\/p>\n

This guardian of honor so willing to fight.<\/em><\/p>\n

Then the soldier rolled over, with a voice soft and pure,<\/em><\/p>\n

Whispered, \u201cCarry on Santa, it\u2019s Christmas day, all is secure.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

One look at my watch, and I knew he was right.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cMerry Christmas my friend, and to all a good night.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Merry Christmas to all of America\u2019s warriors throughout the world. Thank you for making it possible for us to enjoy our holiday in peace and safety\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Christmas poem courtesy of Lance Corporal James M. Schmidt:   \u2018Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone, In a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone. I had come down his chimney with presents to give, And to see just who in this home did live. I looked all about, a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p95FsX-KE","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2173,"url":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/2017\/12\/twas-the-night-before-christmas-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":2892,"position":0},"title":"Twas The Night Before Christmas – Collection","date":"December 23, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Here is a collection of \"Twas The Night Before Christmas\" updated December 27 2025.\u00a0 The original is below. Here's one for our Flight Attendants. Twas the night before Christmas was originally \"A Visit from St. Nicholas\".\u00a0 Click here to read about the origins of the poem. For the automotive enthusiasts:\u00a0\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Newsletters"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/flymall.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/car2-300x260.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4513,"url":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/2020\/12\/twas-the-night-before-christmas-from-2020\/","url_meta":{"origin":2892,"position":1},"title":"Twas The Night Before Christmas from 2020","date":"December 22, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Here are a few home made versions from 2020: Twas three nights before Christmas And all through the home Not one creature disturbs her For one night she\u2019s alone Oh glorious covers! Oh glorious bed! Oh glorious pillows for one weary head No kid with sharp elbows No paw slurping\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Newsletters"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":833,"url":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/2012\/12\/night-before-christmas-collection\/","url_meta":{"origin":2892,"position":2},"title":"Night Before Christmas Collection","date":"December 25, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Here is a collection of different versions of Twas The Night Before Christmas Two for the gearheads: Twas the Night Before Christmas - Automotive Style The Night Before Christmas - Gearhead Style Two for the aviators: Twas The Night Before Christmas The Night Before Christmas \u00a0 The Night Before The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Newsletters"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":6814,"url":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/2022\/12\/twas-the-night-before-christmas-realtor-style\/","url_meta":{"origin":2892,"position":3},"title":"Twas the night before Christmas Realtor Style","date":"December 26, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"\u2018Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house, only Realtors were stirring. And, of course, a mouse.The contracts were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that the closings soon would be there.The buyers were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of homeownership danced in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Newsletters"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":6822,"url":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/2022\/12\/twas-the-night-before-christmas-grieving-mothers\/","url_meta":{"origin":2892,"position":4},"title":"Twas The Night Before Christmas – grieving mothers","date":"December 26, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cIt was the night before Christmas and Santa was busy making his rounds, he was light on his feet making sure he didn't make a sound.But he took notice that some homes didn't have that Christmas Glee.so he decided to stop because he thought that just can't be.He crept in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Newsletters"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/flymall.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/sad.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6818,"url":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/2022\/12\/twas-the-night-before-christmas-special\/","url_meta":{"origin":2892,"position":5},"title":"Twas the night before Christmas – Special","date":"December 26, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Twas the night before Christmas and all God asked for me to do was make things right.I didn\u2019t need to hang the stockings by the chimney with care, because God wanted something different from me this year.Usually after Christmas Eve dinner, I would be nestled in my bed as visions\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Newsletters"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2892"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2892"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2892\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2893,"href":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2892\/revisions\/2893"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2892"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2892"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flymall.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2892"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}