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"A celebration of the human spirit, the Christmas Truce remains a moving manifestation of the absurdities of war. A very minor Scottish poet of Great War vintage, Frederick Niven, may have got it right in his ‘A Carol from Flanders,’ which closed,
O ye who read this truthful rime
From Flanders, kneel and say:
God speed the time when every day
Shall be as Christmas Day.
- (Soldiers Against War) - http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig2/denson4.html
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WAR STORIES FOR THE SEASON
As we celebrate the holiday season, be it Christmas, Hanukah, or Kwanzaa, let us all take a moment to remember our men and women in uniform who are far away from home and do not have the luxury of enjoying the close proximity and warmth of family and friends. Everyday, we are exposed to stories about the war, and watch on the news as soldiers file in a line to get their taste of holiday cooking. At times we are exposed to a snapshot of a group of them in hot, dry or cold/desolate locations, huddled together with a candle or a makeshift tree (with a few decorations they can find to liven it up), singing carols or telling each other of Christmas stories from years past. Perhaps for a few hours, the war is silenced as they honor a celebration known world wide. There was after all, the famous ‘Truce of 1914’ - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_truce
I’ve spent the last few months reading a few military/war novels and one thing that always strikes me is just how much joy these men and women in uniform receive from simply getting a letter from home. For a few minutes, they are distracted from the harsh reality around them and through our words, they are transported to their hometowns, or schools, or homes – they are within ‘talking’ distance of their friends and loved ones. Through our words, they know that they are still remembered and not forgotten – that they are over there fighting for the freedom we all enjoy over here, but at a price (a very high price). Many communities set up drives to have cards and letters sent to soldiers around the world and I know that a local radio station aimed to have over 300,000 sent. That goal was achieved, and as a soldier who called into the station said, we really have no idea just how much a simple postcard with the words ‘Thank You’ can mean so very much to them.
This week, I have decided to feature stories that talk about Christmas time during the war. Imagine yourself away from the comforts of home, forced to stay on guard to prevent yourself or others from being killed while the faint sounds of ‘Jingle Bells’ pelt from a radio in the distance. It is the loneliest feeling in the world in some cases. We are all writers in various capacities and I encourage many of you to find out more about how you can send a letter or letters to military personnel. One such website I’d recommend is: http://amillionthanks.org/
To our fellow WDC members who are serving overseas, we thank you – and to the families who have the unenviable task of waiting, praying and hoping, we thank you as well. Have a blessed holiday season and a much better, happier and safe New Year.
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Short Stories: December 26, 2007 Issue [#2135]
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