(AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)
Still have this picture of the little Iraqi girl in Nasdiriyah hanging on my office wall. God bless the Troops!
Posted on 12/24/2004 1:45:11 PM PST by SwinneySwitch
The holidays mark a time to celebrate and take delight in the company of family and old friends. It is also a fitting time to take note of the peace we enjoy together, and those who have secured it for us.
Most Americans are celebrating the holidays in comfort at home. From that perspective, the world seems safe, and so it should. We must remember, though, that this peace is earned by the brave men and women of our Armed Forces , many of whom are overseas defending our homeland against America's enemies.
They are sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, siblings and friends. Many are Texans. And many are still on the front lines, prevented from enjoying the comforts we have this Christmas, though in truth they deserve these comforts most of all.
America cannot spare these courageous soldiers from the fight at hand. The foe they're battling does not pause for the holidays. They are fighting the enemy on their ground, so that they do not have to fight them on ours.
That is the hard truth of a critical time in our nation's history. Yet it is also true that the fundamental spirit of the holidays is embodied in the selfless commitment to help those in need, to give hope to those who despair, to reach out to the weakest among us, and to spread peace throughout the world.
For those of us who are observing the traditions of the holidays in Texas, it is good and right that we should spend this holiday season filled with gratitude and thankfulness for these brave men and women who are spreading the light of freedom to lands too long imprisoned in darkness.
We can go out of our way to support those who have family members serving overseas. And we can pray that the brave men and women on the front lines will be able to return home safely and soon to the arms of their families.
Even in difficult times for the world abroad, we can learn to set those things aside. In a much darker time, Winston Churchill spent the holidays of 1941 visiting the White House. Speaking at the lighting of the national tree on Christmas Eve, he urged all Americans to "cast aside, for this night at least, the cares and dangers which beset us."
"Let the children have their night of fun and laughter, let the gifts of Father Christmas delight their play, and let us grown-ups share to the full in their unstinted pleasures," Churchill said. "Before we turn again to the stern tasks and the formidable years that lie before us - resolved that by our sacrifice and daring these same children shall not be robbed of their inheritance or denied their right to live in a free and decent world."
Today we are all joined together in pursuit of this ultimate goal: We seek a free and decent world - not just for ourselves, but for all generations. Let us renew our commitment to this noble end as we gather together in the joy of the holidays, in fellowship and celebration, and in recognition of those whose sacrifices have made this season of peace possible.
Sen. John Cornyn , Republican, is a U.S. Senator from Texas.
Still have this picture of the little Iraqi girl in Nasdiriyah hanging on my office wall. God bless the Troops!
"As we celebrate holidays, don't forget the troops"I WILL NOT "forget" AMERICA STRONG PERSONS! Thank you
Our local police department asked for donations for our troops in Iraq, specifically for phone cards so they could call home. I knew right then that was I wanted for Christmas. So I told my husband and he donated and then I donated what I would have spent on him for Christmas. Tonight, when we would have opened our presents, there was nothing. But knowing that some of our military could call home to America and speak to their families gave us great joy. We had a great dinner and have a warm, comfortable home - thanks to our military. Merry Christmas to all our troops. We owe you more than we can ever repay. God Bless You.
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