Christmas Poem: Merry Christmas, My Friend

By Marine Lance Cpl James M. Schmidt
Christmas Poem: Merry Christmas, My Friend
Posted on 12/24/2025

This poem invariably makes the rounds during the Christmas season; we want to ensure you know the poetry's true origins. The poem "Merry Christmas, My Friend" has been circulating for many years. It has been credited to several authors and supposedly written in different locations worldwide. The truth is the poem was written by a Marine Lance Corporal stationed at the Marine Barracks 8th & I in Washington, D.C. James M. Schmidt wrote the poem in 1986, which has been circulating ever since.


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