[deMolay]

Remember Remember the 5th of Nov. Maybe it is time to bring this back. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chqi8m4C ... r_embedded

[dorlomin]

Fawks was a catholic extreamist hell bent on restoring a more authoritarian religous monarchy to England.

V the graphic novel though was much more interesting, a real anarchist. There is something for both left and right in it.

The movie is ok mind and the speach deMolay has posted is pretty cool.

[deMolay]

As a Canadian I always saw it as more of an anarchists day. You know burn down the school etc. Kind of a warning to the establishment and a fun night.

[Pops]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('biofuel13', 'I')sn't that your granddaughter Pops? Fun costume!

[dorlomin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('deMolay', 'A')s a Canadian I always saw it as more of an anarchists day. You know burn down the school etc. Kind of a warning to the establishment and a fun night.

[mattduke]

Remember when wars ended? Remember peace? Rather than celebrating the end of war, today we celebrate warfighters.

[AirlinePilot]

Please put aside your political beliefs this holiday season and remember one thing. There are tens of thousands of US Soldiers, Sailors, Airman, Marines, and Coast Guard on duty around the globe far away from the warmth and comfort of home and family this holiday season.

Think about them for just a few minutes during your holiday celebrations.

That's all I ask.

I dare one of you to retain a dry eye reading this.

A Christmas poem

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."



LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq

[AirlinePilot]

My apologies. The sentiment applies to all soldiers everywhere during this holiday season.

[Ainan]

It's Christmas day and these blooming kids woke me up at 5am. Hope everyone has a great day with their family.

Merry Christmas and good will to all men.

P.S. Did you get any nice pressies? I got a new violin, my post peak music career is a sure thing.

[WildRose]

Good morning, Ainan, and Merry Christmas to you and yours!

It's 1:23 a.m. here in Edmonton, Alberta and I just got the first part of my Christmas trifle into the fridge - will put it all together later this morning, after I get a few zzzzz's. My kids (aged 23, 18 and 15) are enjoying reliving their younger years, watching "The Grinch" and other seasonal shows together. Our daughter is staying over tonight as she has a couple of days off (she lives on her own now). We have lots of snow and I took a walk with my dog earlier this evening, savoring the crisp air, Christmas lights and sparkle of the snow. The day will be a long and busy one, as have the last few.
Peace, all!
WildRose

[SeaGypsy]

It's end of Christmas day here in north west Australia; 2 hours after sunset and 34 celcius / 90 fahr. A lot of kids here didn't get what they wanted for Christmas so they went on a vandalism spree; damage in excess of $20,000. I spent the day with a bunch of old people learning Murin Patha carols. My wife misses me too much, I should be in the Philippines. Oh well, can't have everything!

[Tanada]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Carlhole', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ainan', 'M')erry Christmas and good will to all men.

[Cloud9]

Merry Christmas. It is morning in Florida. We'll be off to see the kids in a few.

[mcgowanjm]

6+ inches of snow on top of 2 inches of rain. Sun is out. Wind Chill 5 degrees F.

Snow measured in Feet from Tulsa North. Oklahoma roads impassable. Central AR got almost 10 inches Rain. Dallas to Little Rock roads cut off.

All rivers are out of their banks. Wettest year ever. But we have electricity. Yeah US!

Merry Everything!

[JJ]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Carlhole', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ainan', 'M')erry Christmas and good will to all men.

[dinopello]

Merry Christmas, everyone. I left the snow of Northern Virginia for the no snow of eastern Virginia at my Mom's.

Does anyone have a parent in a Nursing home ? This is our first year with my Dad in one and I'm not sure whether to make a big deal of it being Christmas or not.

The best present I received this year was some homemade Cuccidati from a dear friend.

[davep]

Merry Christmas everyone, and here's hoping your prepping enables many happy returns.

[Ainan]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('GASMON', 'a')nd someone bought them a bloody Karaoke machine !!!