Merry Christmas, Everyone!
During this Christmas Day and this Holiday Season, while we are warm and safe at home with good cheer, food, friends and family, let us not forget those who are spending their Christmas Season away from home. Away from family...
Staff Sgt. Raymond Golden of Charleston, S.C. and headed to Afghanistan sits near a Christmas tree above the atrium at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, one day before the Thanksgiving holiday in Atlanta, Georgia, November 21, 2007.
REUTERS/Tami Chappell
Staff Sgt. Raymond Golden of Charleston, S.C. and headed to Afghanistan sits near a Christmas tree above the atrium at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, one day before the Thanksgiving holiday in Atlanta, Georgia, November 21, 2007. REUTERS/Tami Chappell
....so that we may be with ours. So that our country may stay safe. So that the world may know peace and justice.
And let us not forget those we have lost along the way, in the fight to keep us safe and free...
Let us remember and express gratitude to those who will never again embrace their families and friends in this life, but in the next one...
An ornament is covered with fresh snow in Section 60, where the majority of those killed in Iraq are buried, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.Win McNamee - Getty Images
Flowers adorn the grave of Army specialist Ross Andrew McGinnis, in Arlington National Cemetery. McGinnis was killed Dec. 4, 2006, after throwing himself on a grenade which had been tossed into his vehicle. For his actions, which saved the lives of four infantrymen, McGinnis was awarded the Silver Star. McGinnis has also been nominated for the Medal of Honor.Mandel Ngan - AFP/Getty Images
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Labels: Christmas, fallen/wounded hero
posted by The WordSmith from Nantucket at 12/25/2007 12:41:00 PM
25 Comments:
Very moving story at Arlington National Cemetery where so many of our heroes are buried:
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/wreaths-2005.htm
This was the idea of one man and now it's going nationwide.
It shows the power of good that one person can unleash.
Let that be a shining example to each and every one of and remind us never to say "what can I do, I'm just one person."
One person can change the world and make it better.
End of sermon.
Merry Christmas to all Wordsmith fans. Even the ones who cheat me from winning the caption contest!
P.S. Word, why not reprint that comment you left at F.A.? Good stuff.
As always, your holidays posts never disappoint! Wishing you and yours a blessed Christmas!
A friend of mine emailed me this story. My friend was an Aviation Ordinance man aboard the USS Forestall in 1967 when John McCain's A-4 Skyhawk set off one of the worst disasters aboard a Navy ship in it's then almost 200 year history.
I read the story about the wreaths and understood that there are still Americans that realize they can change things with acts of kindness and reverence.
Thank you putting the story up Word and Merry Christmas to ya.
USS Forrestal, my spell checker can't spell either
Merry Christmas, Wordsmith. All the best for thye New Year - maybe even Peace on Earth. Could happen.
Thanks for the well-wishes and reflections, guys.
Hope no one misses this post.
Sometimes, I do an uncharacteristic multi-post/day, and fear things get buried by drive-by visits.
Also, check out this excellent reflection from Tom's Fireside Chat.
Robert at Conservative Commmentary writes:
Christmas day saw a bunch of Marines sitting around a six inch tree singing Christmas carols and praying. We knew what we were going to face - combat and miserable conditions for the foreseeable future - but the prayers were for families. Prayers that they would be comforted, and taken care of during the dark times. Prayers for them to be content, and happy, and to be able to anticipate our return and not be obsessed with the possibility that we wouldn't.
December 26th at dawn saw us loading an aircraft headed for the desert, and seven months of prayers that continued for families. I don't want to turn this into a discussion about Iraq, but for those who have never served with our warriors, they aren't concerned for themselves. They spend their days in combat zones worrying about their families. Christmas is about giving, and giving is often more than just a gift. It is about giving our hearts and souls to something or someone on the outside.
His childhood story is a good one, too.
During this Christmas Day and this Holiday Season, while we are warm and safe at home with good cheer, food, friends and family, let us not forget those who are spending their Christmas Season away from home.
Amen!
That second picture should bring home to all of us what this Christmas means for many of our military families--sadness and grief. But also the realization that their loved ones gave the greatest sacrifice--reason to be so proud of them.
Mike mentioned the wreaths at Arlington Cemetery. Last year, one of my homeschool families helped to place those wreaths. The children in the family ranged from age 7 to age 3, each child toting a wreath and placing it. Even the WaPo couldn't ignore the story and place it front page, above the fold.
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Merry Christmas to all here! As at Thanksgiving, we should count our many blessings--the greatest being that of living in the best nation on earth.
We got word at my church that another one of our Marines (and presumably his whole unit as well) is being deployed to Iraq tomorrow. It's good they've let him have Christmas at home with his family.
Merry Christmas, WordSmith!
Thanks, aow and skyepuppy.
From Jake's Life, honoring Nathan Windsor at his Huntington Beach funeral:
Speaking of the bagpipes, I used to think that Amazing Grace on the bagpipes was one of the coolest things in the world, but I don't think I can ever listen to it again for the rest of my life without almost tearing up.
The inscription on the memorial says it best, "Lest we forget the heroes of all our wars." And one of the speakers explained it best when he said, "This isn't a memorial to war, or to dying in war, but a memorial to life, lives lived to the fullest."
A Merry Christmas to a remarkable blogger and friend!
Wishing you the blessings of the season. Thank you for the great work you do all year.
That second picture brought tears to my eyes.
Have a Merry Christmas, WS!
Blessings to you and your family.
That's a heartfelt Christmas message, Wordsmith.
Here's wishing you the best of the holiday season, and for the new year!
Beautiful post Word!..Blessings to u my friend!
Amen, and a Merry Christmas to you and yours, Wordsmith.
Merry Christmas to my friend and most Christian non-Christian I know, Wordsmith!
Merry Christmas!
One person can and many can follow to make good things happen!
And may we pray for no more Section 60s or their need again --
Merry Christmas, Wordsmith.
BZ
Great post! Thanks for honoring our troops. How fitting. Hope you all had a merry Christmas!!
Merry Christmas!
Moving post, the kind you do so well, Word.
Now, let's welcome in a healthy, prosperous and peaceful 2008.
Thanks, everyone!
A belated "Merry Christmas" to you and yours, Wordsmith, and may you enjoy a blessed New Year too!
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