Here is a little Christmas cheer for you.

A Cedar City Christmas Poem
By Dan Kidder

T'was the night before the holiday, Christmas gone out of fad.
And I sat in my bluster going stark raving mad.
The fireplace sat there with nary a log
The installers had tippled a bit too much nog.

The stockings weren't hung; the courts had an injunction
But all of the bureaucrats still refused to function
Pelosi and Reid had us all in a worry
Their holiday gift meant the end in a hurry

The kitties were dozing 'neath the yule tree so barren
Couldn't have lights, carbon footprint we're hearin'
My meager gifts were passed out and I would soon join them
After drinking too much Jack, George, and Captain

When what to my wondering ears should I hear
A racket of epic proportion was near.
Glen Beck was on fire and Rush was a blazin'
Hannity said some things quite amazin'

The reindeer were hangin above mantles 'round town
A great year for hunting up the mountain and down
No, Santa would be without his swift coursers this year
And children in Cedar would have no presents, I fear.

But then in the distance, I saw them a coming
In jackets quite red, a tune they were humming
Men who were fat and men who were bald,
Some that were short and some that were tall

They bent to their task, not a groan passed their lips
As they tugged and they pulled and a couple of times slipped
Each one had a smile that from their face beamed
And I knew them in a moment from their crisp pressed seams

As they grew closer, my heart swelled with pride
For the tune they were humming I soon recognized
"From the Halls of Montezuma, to the Shores of Tripoli"
That Hymn swelled in volume, meaning everything to me

And what were they pulling, and for what did they labor
But a sleigh full of toys to bring to their neighbors
They passed by my door and I ran to their side
Picked up a line, and joined with the tide

Of all of the missions these men had completed,
This one each year was really most needed
The boxes collected, these men went about
Delivering Christmas to many without

Toys for Tots was upon us and we were delighted
Each and every window we passed soon was lighted
As people stood watching from their porches aglow
Joy and happiness soon mingled into the flow

And up on the sleigh, stood a Gunny at 'tention
The gleam in his eye was too bright to mention
The stripes on his sleeve, the ribbons on his chest
Told all those watching that this was the best

In a voice that boomed like a Howitzer firing
He called to the children, from beds now a stirring
"Santa was delayed by hot air over DC
We came to his call, and don't care if it's PC."

"Now Tommy and Rhonda, and Jamal, and Tyrone
Casandra, and Jasmine," his list carried on
"Hiroko, and Bobby, Samantha and Heather"
Every child he called was gathered together.

And each one was given a present so dear
A very small token of this time of the year
And soon all the children had gifts they could cherish
And everyone knew that Christmas would not perish

And as we headed away and off into the night
The Gunny stood tall and gazed left and then right
And a tiny tear formed and slid from his eye
"Mission Accomplished Sir, goodnight and goodbye"

Then he snapped a salute and ordered "move out"
And all of the men in red jackets did shout
"Semper Fi" just as loud as their hearts would allow
"We'll be back next year," they all did avow.

And we trudged down the road, more children to see
Bringing the spirit of Christmas from you and from me.
The Gunny looked back , and gave all a wave
Vanishing into the night, for Christmas to save.