The Superior Express -

Other than the fun of Halloween, Christmas has to be one of my favorite times of the year. I love the decorations, the lights, the carols, the tree, the excitement and the food. I will never know why anyone waits until Christmas to make fudge and peanut brittle. Tradition, I suppose. One of my favorite Christmas memories was caroling with my church family in Oak.

Every year the congregation would get bundled up and climb onto a flatbed trailer covered in small straw bales to be chauffeured all over town singing Christmas hymns at home after home. When we returned to the church, hot chocolate, apple cider and cookies would be waiting. Thinking about Christmas’s past made me wonder how our service members celebrate the holiday when they are deployed or in another country, away from family, friends and traditions they hold dear.

I had some trouble finding folks to talk to about holiday deployment. Most of the veterans I contacted were either not deployed during the holidays or did not have fond memories of their holidays away, which is understandable. I was able to get a funny story from my husband; Chuck Tuttle shared with me about his Christmas in Germany; and Vince Walton shared a story of a Christmas in Australia.

While my husband was in basic training over Christmas, his sister made bourbon balls and sent them to him, knowing this act could get him into trouble. In fact, he still thinks that was the plan all along. Patty, George’s older sister, made and sent 100 bourbon balls to her brother that holiday. Three days before Christmas, he received the package that his drill instructor then ordered him to open. After opening the package, the instructor took a deep breath of the contents and ordered George and three other airmen over the age of 21 down to the drill pad. They were given ten minutes to consume as many as possible. The consequences of this came the next day as the four airmen attempted to meet their PT requirements for the day.

Chuck Tuttle was stationed at Hahn Air Force Base in Germany from 1965 to 1968. He and his family lived in what they referred to as ecomomy housing. Their apartment was in the second story of a German family’s farmhouse. Chuck liked how the people there doted on the children during the holiday season. “They made it all about the children.” He liked the old traditions, and how many of the decorations were homemade. Many times a tree was decorated outdoors and lit with candles. “You didn’t see any artificial trees in Germany.”

He also mentioned the treats were something to be remembered as well, especially the cake. “It wasn’t like our cake. It was heavy and dense.”

Vince Walton spent five Christmases on ship during his time in the United States Navy. He worked as an engineer, six hours on and six hours off, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. So many times, the holidays abroad were just another day on the calendar for him. However, one holiday sticks out in his mind.

One Christmas, they had made port in Perth, Australia. Vince had signed up for an adopt a sailor program, and when the ship pulled in, a family was waiting to meet him. He was taken to their home for the day, treated to a nice meal and pleasant conversation. Vince was touched by the kindness of strangers in another country. This act of kindness will never be forgotten.

These memories of Christmas’s past from our local veterans are of the good times. As I mentioned earlier, those tend to be few and far between for many of our servicemen and women. Some soldiers need to stay behind where they are stationed to be available for funeral details, to plan training events, or simply can’t afford to travel home for the holiday. The holidays often mean time away from loved ones for our military and their families, which can be stressful.

So as your set your table and rush about to put the final touches on your Christmas dinner, take a moment to pray for those who can’t be home with their loved ones this holiday season. Hold your family just a little tighter and let go of the idea that everything needs to be perfect. Take a breath and enjoy the moments because those moments make life worth living. Thank a soldier this holiday season, they may have chosen the profession, but that shouldn’t make their sacrifices go unnoticed. Thank you to all who those who have served and all who continue to serve. Merry Christmas, and God Bless us, everyone.