Click to hear "The Marine Corps Hymn" by James "PoppyK" Kisner The photo album worn and old is sitting on the pile, She flips the cover open just to reminisce awhile. On the first page there she is, a baby in her lap, Her son when he was one year old; she smiles as she thinks back. That was taken in the park where she took him to play, Funny how it sometimes seems like only yesterday. But other times it seems those days are distant memories, And all we have reminding us are pictures such as these. She sees a picture of him with his second birthday cake, And smiles as she remembered of the face that he would make, When trying to blow out the candles he would have a fit, He tried so hard to blow them out but they would all stay lit. So Mom came to the rescue with a waving of her hand, The same time that he blew on it she waved a little fan. She smiles as she thinks back at all the things when he first tried, When she would lend a helping hand and then just step aside. She sees a picture of him standing holding his first bike, And smiles when thinking how he said, "it's harder than a trike". But she would run behind him holding on while he would ride, Until he got his balance and then she would step aside. She turns the page and sees a picture when he was in school, Remembering he used to say that it was not so cool, To have your mother waiting for the school bus at your side, So when the bus would get in sight, she quickly stepped aside. She goes on through the album like a trip down through the years, And as she goes from page to page her eyes start forming tears. All through his life she stood by him in everything he tried, Until he could do it alone and then she stepped aside. But even though she stepped aside she was always near, With a mother's worried heart and with a mother's fear. Knowing that a day would come when life would have a plan, For her little boy who now has grown to be a man. She closes up the album and looks at the fireplace, She sees his picture on the mantle with his smiling face. Called to active duty and he's serving now with pride, And once again with worried heart, she had to step aside. This page is lovingly dedicated to my oldest son who is actively serving as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps and to the memory of my father and uncles who were all combat veterans. Thank you from a loving and grateful mother, daughter and niece! In Memory of Sgt. Tibbs "Stinky" the USMC cat A Marine's Christmas - done in honor of my son