THE GUARDIAN’S NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Twas the night before Christmas, living all alone,
In a one bedroom house made of plaster & stone.
I came down the chimney with presents to give
And to see just who in this home did live.

I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,
No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand,
On the wall hung pictures of far distant lands.

With medals and badges, awards of all kind
A sober thought came through the back of my mind.
For this house was different, so simple and dreary,
I knew I had found the home of a Guardian, once I could see clearly.

I heard stories about them, I had to see more
So I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.
And there on the floor sleeping silent alone,
Curled up on the floor in the one bedroom home.

The face was so gentle, the room in disarray,
Not how I pictured a Guardian would stay.
Was this the hero of whom I'd just read?
Curled up in the hoodie, a floor for the bed?

Proper haircut, in uniform I could see on in the space,
I soon understood this was the right place.
For I realized the families that I saw that night
Owed their lives to these Guardians who were willing to fight.

Soon `round the world, the children would play,
And grownups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.
They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year,
Because of sailors like this one lying here.

I couldn´t help wonder how many lay alone
On a cold Christmas Eve in a land far from home.
Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees and started to cry.

The Guardian 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 values, they’re core."
With that my new shipmate rolled over and went back to sleep,
I couldn´t control it, I continued to weep.
I watched and watched for hours, so silent and still,
I noticed the shivering from the cold night´s chill.

So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,
And I covered this shipmate from toes up to head.
And I put on the T-shirt of blue and of black,
With the words US COAST GUARD embroidered on back.

Well, it barely fit me but I swelled up with pride,
And for a shining moment, I was a Guardian deep, deep inside.
I didn’t want to leave on that cold dark night,
This member of the Coast Guard so willing to fight.

Then the Guardian rolled over, whispered with a voice so clean and pure,
"Carry on Santa, it's Christmas Day, all is secure."
One look at my watch, and I knew we were right,
Merry Christmas my friend, and to all a good night!

Deutschland wrote "Daddy's Christmas" (Soldier's Christmas)" as a Bonita, Montague County, Texas, high school exercise in 1937, this has been recreated by MK1 Sean Hagerty and CAPT Cari Thomas, USCG.