My Holiday Tribute to Books for Soldiers

'Twas the month before Christmas, and through the BFS house
One could hear frantic typing and the clicking of a mouse,
The requests had been posted by moderators with care,
in hopes that OVs soon would be there.

The soldiers were nestled all snug in their bunks,
(and some of them sure were adorable hunks!)
And surrounded by boxes and holiday wrap,
Who has the time to waste on a nap?

When out on the roof there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my desk to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew in a hurry,
’round FRBs and FREs I did scurry.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
gave the lustre of midday to objects below,
when, what did I see throwing kisses and hugs,
but a minivan full of BFS Chatterbugs!

With a driver careening through many a mile,
I knew in a moment it must be SaraSmile.
More rapid than eagles, rabble-rousers they came,
and she whistled and shouted and called them by name:
"Now AvsFan! Now TammyCat!Now, TizWiz and Lis!
On, Kimcatus! On, DC!On, Elizabeth and wendyc!
To the post office counter!Grab your stash of Flat Rate stamps!
Let’s pack up those boxes,My fellow wild …scamps!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky
so on the post office, this crew they descended,
leaving workers bewildered, amused though upended.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard clearly the sound
of postal trucks idling in the background.
I knew they’d be headed that very same night,
Toward APOs and FPOs for an MPS flight.

Across hundreds of miles and crossing the seas,
Soldiers were waiting, some with decorated trees
For the gifts that they already knew to expect,
From people who live to show them love and respect.

Their eyes--how they twinkled in anticipation!
These brave men and women defending our nation,
Serving their country so far from their homes,
but knowing in their hearts they are never alone.

The strong, stalwart soldiers, Marines brave and true,
hard-working sailors, courageous airmen too.
Each one of them special, each one such a hero,
even as desert nights drop down near zero.

They never complain and resolve never wavers,
they have such a hard time asking for favors.
Yet they know our support is just a modem line away
and mail call can be such a special time of day.

They speak words of thanks every chance that they’re given,
when it’s us who should thank them for the secure lives we’re livin'.
They fight for our liberty, fight for our freedom.
We can’t ever let them think that we don’t need ‘em..

So pack up those boxes with jerky and candy,
Books are great, too, and CDs are just dandy.
Let them hear you exclaim, even to excess,
"Happy Christmas to all, with love from BFS!"



BFS= Books for Soldiers, a support site
OV = Official Volunteer, a BFS member who has access to troop requests and mailing addresses
FRE/FRB = Flat Rate Envelope/Box, which often saves a small fortune in postage on heavier items
APO/FPO= Air Post Office/Fleet Post Office (part of a military address)
MPS = Military Postal Service, everything sent to an APO or FPO is then transported via MPS to the actual locations where the soldiers are