1950’s Christmas

Rockwell’s Christmas

 

TO ALL –

NO MATTER WHAT RELIGION YOU HOLD DEAR, THE VERY BEST WISHES OF THIS HOLIDAY SEASON GO OUT TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.  AND, I RAISE A TOAST THAT WE ENJOY A CONTINUED FRIENDSHIP THROUGHOUT THE COMING YEAR.

 

 

finish that last-minute shopping; Chicago 1950

Sing the carols

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Smitty made this set-up life- size and it sat on our front lawn my entire childhood

 

 

 

memories of the ole’ days

 

 

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 TO THE MILITARY OF EVERY PEACEFUL NATION, THANK YOU!   MAY YOU RECEIVE A MAGICAL CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR!

 

 

A Soldiers Night Before Christmas 

Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,

In a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney with presents to give,

And to see just who in this house did live.

 

I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,

No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.

No stockings by the fire, just boots filled with sand,

On the wall hung pictures of far distant lands.

 

With medals and badges, awards of all kind,

A sober thought came through my mind.

For this house was different, so dark, so dreary,

I knew I had found the home of a soldier, once I saw clearly.

 

I heard stories about them, I had to see more,

So I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.

And there he lay sleeping silent alone,

Curled up on the floor in his one bedroom home.

 

His face so gentle, his room in disorder,

Not how I pictured a United States soldier.

Was this the hero of whom I’d just read?

Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?

 

His head was clean shaven, his weathered face tan,

I soon understood this was more than a man.

For I realized the families that I saw that night,

Owed their lives to these men who were willing to fight.

 

 

1950 Australian notice

 

Soon ’round the world, the children would play,

And grownups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.

They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year,

Because of soldiers like this one lying here.

 

I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone,

On a cold Christmas Eve in a land far from home.

Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye,

I dropped to my knees and started to cry.

 

The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice,

“Santa don’t cry, this life is my choice;

I fight for freedom, I don’t ask for more,

My life is my God, my country, my Corps.

 

With that he rolled over and drifted back into sleep,

I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep.

I watched him for hours, so silent and still,

I noticed he shivered from the cold night’s chill.

 

So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,

And I covered this Soldier from his toes to his head.

And I put on his T-shirt of gray and black,

With an eagle and an Army patch embroidered on back.

 

And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride,

And for a shining moment, I was U.S. Army deep inside.

I didn’t want to leave him on that cold, dark night,

This guardian of honor so willing to fight.

 

Then the soldier rolled over, whispered with a voice clean and pure,

“Carry on Santa, it’s Christmas Day, all is secure.”

One look at my watch and I knew he was right,

Merry Christmas, my friend, and to all a good night!

 

a soldier’s Christmas tree

making a cake in an ammo can

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Farewell Salutes –

William Archibald – Park Ridge, IL; US Navy, WWII

Robert Baker – Fairfax, VA; US Air Force, Colonel

Dominick Busceti – Uniondale, NY; US Army, Korea

Frederick King – Washington D.C.; US Air Force, Colonel (Retired)

Billy Laurie – Redding, CA; US Navy, SeeBees

Hector Pina – Chicago, IL; US Army, WWII, 42nd Rainbow Division

David Regner – Chicago, IL; US Army, Korea

Louis Unti – Burr Ridge, IL; US Navy, WWII PTO, USS LST 596

John Wilkin – Paris, Ontario, Canada; RCOC & RCEME,  WWII

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PERSONAL NOTE –

I usually post on the holiday’s actual date, but wanted to send this out around the world so that I might reach everyone in EVERY time zone.  My warmest wishes and heartiest thank you’s go along with it.

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