Milhist: See this story for a rather eerie description of the 1914 (first year WWI) Christmas true. Good, brief account.
May the spirits of those old soldiers from long ago, both of Blue and Grey ,rest in peace on this eve of a modern Christmas:
HOME, SWEET HOME Words by John Howard Payne Music by Henry Rowley Bishop
'Mid pleasures and palaces though I may roam,
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home;
A charm from the sky seems to hallow us there,
Which, seek thro' the world, is ne'er met with elsewhere.
Chorus:
Home! Home! Sweet, sweet home!
There's no place like home, there's no place like home.
An exile from home, splendor dazzles in vain,
Oh, give me my lowly thatched cottage again;
The birds singing gaily that come at my call;
Give me them, with that peace of mind, dearer than all.
Chorus
To thee, I'll return, overburdened with care,
The heart's dearest solcae will smile on me there.
No more from that cottage again will I roam,
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home.
We visited the battlefield at Murfreesboro, TN a few years ago. They have a park, historical artifacts, history movie, and live cannons firing, etc. The most impressive part of the visit was driving along side thousands of white crosses covering the graves of these brave men. Sent shivers of pride through my soul. I'll never forget that visit to Murfreesboro.
There's a very real transforming power of Christmas, whether it be secular or religious.
A WW1 Christmas Eve story...thanks for the ping "Racehorse."
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everybody
"December 30, 1862"
Christmas Eve? Not even New Year's Eve. Nice story nonetheless.
related:
Last survivor of 'Christmas truce' tells of his sorrow (1914 - 1942 - 2004)
observer | Sunday December 19, 2004 | Lorna Martin, Scotland editor
Posted on 12/24/2004 3:03:46 AM PST by Truth666
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1307843/posts
Last allied witness of WWI Christmas truce dies
Yahoo News | 11/21/05 | By Peter Graff
Posted on 11/21/2005 8:49:17 AM PST by SmoothTalker
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1526129/posts