The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1945-12-20
The Christmas Spirit

The Christmas season Is with us again
and yet, on this joyous occasion, there are
people, who in feeling of dependency,
declare they can not rejoice. War has
brought suffering and loss to millions; but
now that the war has ceased and the world
again knows peace, this achievement is
worthy of celebration. The efforts to main
tain good will toward men in all nations,
regardless of creed or color, are definite
indication to us that men are again being
guided by the star of the east toward last
ing principles of peace.
Let us recall that nineteen hundred and
forty-five years ago, when Christ was born
in troubled world, there was great re-
joicing This Christmas should be one of
both thanksgiving and rejoicing. And
with the re-birth of freedom to all man.
kind let us pay tribute in prayer to those
. millions who died on the far-flung fields
of battle that people of all faiths and races
might live in lasting peace and let us pra.
God that their sacrifice may not have been
in vain.
Remembering that the babe born in
Bethlehem has forever since been the
symbol for love- faith and hope for all
Christendom, let us re-dedicate ourselves
again to those principles and keep Christ
mas ever shining and glowing.
Christmas has and should always be
closely associated with our homes and it is
fitting that we remember our friends and
loved ones with gifts of love and devotion,
expressing the true spirit of the Yuletide
If you are puzzled over the Christmas spir-
it, would like to give you part of an ex-
PLANTATION once written in the New York
Sun, by Frank Church, in answer to the in
quiry of Virginia Hanlon, little girl, who
in 1897, wrote, asking, "Please tell me the
truth; is there Santa CLAUSE"
Church wrote the following:
"He exists as certainly as love and gen
crosby and devotion exists and you know
that they abound and give your life it's
highest beauty and JOY"
These are the things we should remem-
Der in times like the present.
Two years ago we received letter from
relative in service and we quote parts of it
here because while war has ceased, there
are still many young. men who will not be
home for Christmas except in their Dreams:
"The ocean, some several thousand
miles, and the important job of helping to
defeat Hitler will keep me from coming
home this Christmas. But I'll be thinking
Of the family back home =. the smell of
roast turkey, the spicy taste Of fruit cake
and all the other fixins the exchange
Of gifts under the Christmas tree gath
ering around and singing carols =. -. going
to midnight church services reading all
the greeting cards. l like to think that you
will be carrying on as usual; and the
thought of what I am missing gives me a
double incentive to hurry up and end this
war and get back home to celebrate Christ
mas. But don't get out of the habit of
celebrating just because have job here,
from which there will be no holiday until
it is finished"
Last year, about this time he wrote
again:
GAS you know, won't be home for
Christmas this year, either, but we are
nearer to returning than we were last
year. Keep on observing Christmas in the
good old American way and one of these
days. when this job is over, I'll be back,
along with lot of other Americans to en-
Joy it, but first we must make sure of
peace"
Peace has come. But this young man,
like many others, will still not be home for
Christmas. Ill and in hospital, last week
| he wrote:
again, won't be home for Christmas
but I'll be thinking of everyone and wish