The Night Before Christmas for Soldiers

Many of us in the Christian tradition will be together with family or friends this evening, safe in our homes, reciting the most famous poem of this day, Twas the Night Before Christmas.

It is important to remember, though, that not all will have this luxury. People estranged from their families, people living on the streets, and soldiers deployed in different parts of the world will all have very different experiences.

While looking for a page related to the night before Christmas, I found this extremely well done and touching tribute to soldiers, a rewrite of the Night Before Christmas poem,

Twas The Night Before Christmas - A Holiday Tribute To Our American Soldiers
by Crystal_Booth.

Crystal received this poem via email and felt compelled to share it with as many people as she could by creating this page. Whatever one might think of war, it is still a fact that many soldiers will be apart from their families this Christmas and it is important that we remember both them and their families at home.

The poem was written by a soldier, Lance Corporal James M. Schmidt, and was originally titled, A Soldier's Silent Night. It might be a good poem to recite with your family this evening. Or you can play the video included in the lens, where the poem is recited along with pictures of soldiers. And, of course, Crystal hopes that you will also share this poems with others.

Besides the poem, Crystal provides all kinds of other ways to pay tribute to soldiers, such as adopting a soldier through the organization Soldier's Angels or by visiting the site, BringHimHomeSanta.com, where proceeds from sales go to St. Jude's Hospital. There is also a song about soldiers by country singer Toby Keith.

Thank you, Crystal, for reminding us that not everyone is together with their family for the holidays.

Image Credit: Deployed this Christmas Star Ornament by usmcgals