Song and poem for Christmas

TWO VERY different items dealing with the military and Christmas came to me recently, and I think they're worth sharing.

One is a Christmas song written for our troops in Iraq by a Charlottesville man with Westmoreland County family ties.

The other comes from Colonial Beach--a poem a man sent to his wife during Christmas away from home, serving in Korea in 1953.

John Carden, who happens to be my cousin, wrote "Missing You at Christmas" a few weeks back, and has been amazed by the fast track the song has been on since then.

He grew up in Warsaw and his family eventually moved to Westmoreland.

Just out of music school years ago, Carden spent time as a professional musician in baroque opera, making his debut at the Metropolitan Opera and Carnegie Hall in the late '80s.

Not long after that, he relocated to Charlottesville and created a thriving hair salon on the city's downtown mall.

Though he continues to work there, he sold the business more than a year ago to devote more time and resources to restarting a career in music.

The song that's now being heard from California to England and beyond came during a marathon composing session several weeks back.

Taking a break, a friend proposed the notion of writing a Christmas song.

Turning his attention to Christmas tunes he enjoyed, Carden began focusing on a common theme in many: the emotion of missing people who were away at Christmas.

"What's more on anybody's mind right now than all of our military people away from their homes and family at Christmas?" he asked.

With that in mind, Carden said the words and music just tumbled out of him, a message of caring and hope that God will help these family members and bring them home safe.

The chorus: "I'm missing you and all that you are, thinking of you and all that you've been through."

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'Missing you at Xmas'

Words and music by John Carden

It's Xmas time once again
and you're alone
and I'm here

I hope this war will finally end
and you'll come home
until then ...

I'm missing you, and all that you are.
Thinking of you and all we've been through

The snow is falling
the wind is howling
I hope you're well
May God keep you protected

When Jesus was in the manger
lo, in Bethlehem so long ago
God was watching him
as he's watching you now

And God will help us find our way
and God will help us through this day
And God is here for all of us
and through the years the one true light!

And God will help us find new light
And God will help us through this night
And God will send my love to you
out of the dark
He'll light the way to come home

Soldier's Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the tent
The air was filled with a mystical scent

It wasn't of holly or even of pine
But more like a sock that was size number nine

The guys were all nestled all snug in their sacks
Just hoping the pain would soon leave their backs

The pain, as you guessed, was a rifle, M-1
After one hour of guard it feels like a ton

But never the less they felt kind of gay
For they knew that tomorrow would be Christmas Day

And Christmas would mean a complete day of rest
No work, no sweat, no sargeants to pest

But all of a sudden they heard a great shout
A powerful voice that blasted "Fall out"

A familiar sweet voice they had all grown to know
That sounded as gentle as a hurricane's blow

Somehow they all knew that this wasn't saint Nick
The little old driver so lively and quick

They knew that this voice could mean nothing but work
So they hid in their sacks where they thought they could shirk

And then in a twinkling they heard at the tent
The rustling of canvas and they knew what it meant

Then with the speed of the tornado's wind
The battery first sargeant came smashing right in

He stopped and he stood and he looked all around
And his face was all drown with a terrible frown

Then he yelled and he shouted and he called them by name
Now Switzer and Price and McWilliams and Bahme

And Johnston and Murphy and Emmett, you too
I have a schoshe job for the whole lazy crew

So out through the snow they miserably went
And wished to return to the warmth of their tent

Why they were cold, I'll never know
For the mild winter weather was just thirty below

And thirty below is not cold over here
Whenever it's that warm, it's like spring of the year

So after the job, they all headed back
And their one single thought was the warmth of that sack

But entering the tent, they soon had a surprise
And they couldn't believe the sight of their eyes

For there they all saw a gift for each guy
And a Christmas tree lighted that shined like the sky

Then they yelled and they shouted and they all jumped for joy
Like a child does on Christmas when he gets his first toy

For while they had gone, ole Santa had came
And remembered each man and even his name

As you all know, to all who believe
Santa will visit on each Christmas Eve

And faith in Ole Santa will never cease
As long as we cherish our freedom and peace

And I heard them exclaim as they turned out the light
"Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night"

Date published: 12/21/2006

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