A Christmas Chanukah EID Yule Tide Message for Hubbers | from Hmrjmr1
Ah my Hubber friends, followers, fans, fammers, and spollowers, (you all know who you are), I pass along my special wish for those in the 56 countries, and 955 cities around the world (Including the city of –Not Set-), for a Merry Christmas for those who are Christian, Happy Chanukah for my friends who are Jewish, ASlam a likum EID for my Muslim friends, a cheery Yule tide for my Wicca friends, and a clear path on boxing day for my friends in the UK. It is my wish for each of you and all of you that the peace of the season gives you hope for the peace of the world.
While this is a time many might think I would be sad, or melancholy, (We lost John II last year and a day ago) it just is not so. Christmas for me long before John’s birth has been always a time to take great joy in the miracle of birth and the possibility of peace, since I think a soldier has an obligation and self interest to hope that peace may be so.
The joy of the season for me was even more elevated at John
II’s birth as it took place on 24 Dec 1984; a day that hence forth was not called Christmas Eve but Johnnies Birthday! How much more confirmation of God does a simple man need than to share such a miracle so near the time of his own sons birth. How happy he must have been! You see, Johnnie was born two weeks early during
what at the time was a short break between deployments, a two month one completed to Yakima
Firing Center 180 miles away, and Winter Warfare exercises in Alaska in January. So by coming two weeks
early I was able to attend his birth as I had his older brothers.Such a great Gift and surprise for Christmas!
Life and birth are daily miracles God provides us; no matter what you call him or how you choose to pray to him. It is also a miracle of the Earth as Mother Earth did and does nourish all life and give it sustenance to grow.
Death is the culmination and final act of this miracle and is the springboard to faith that goes back the full range of man from cave paintings, through the pagan periods of mummification, the legends of Hades and the River Styx, to the current promise of heaven, or returning your energy to the Earth. In all faiths there is more and longer sustenance after life than there is in it. Of that fact, in my sectarian non denominational faith I am sure, and allows me to look forward to the day God calls me home, hopefully mission accomplished (emphasis on God cause it’s not my call as to when I go but it is in how I choose to live the miracle he granted me.).
I’ve included a portion of Major General Tony Cucolo, Commander 3rd Infantry Division and Division Command Sergeant Major Jesse Andrews Holiday Message to the Troops of the 3rd Infantry Division (The Dogface Soldiers), now deployed in Iraq, and Afghanistan, and more heading that way. I served proudly with the 3rd ID twice in Iraq as an MWR contractor. Gen Cucolo sums a soldier’s view up far better than my humble words and thus I share them with you. I’ve included a link to the 3rd ID Facebook page and you can follow them as I do,
Though we are far away from the places and faces we love so much, we’re doing what American Soldiers have done in similar circumstances during holiday seasons for the last 234 years: when we miss home, we turn to each other for strength -- our battle buddies and our units -- because we’re all in this together. And we hope our Families turn to one another -- other Army Families – for strength because our Families are all in this together, too.
But there is something else about life out here you ought to know: the deep longing to be with our loved ones is mixed with an intense pride in who we are and what we do. You see, when we look at what war and inhuman cruelty has done to the people we are trying to protect in both Iraq and Afghanistan; we are more determined to make a difference. And when we fight to bring good people the same simple freedoms we enjoy in the United States and allow young democracies to take shape, we appreciate so much more what we have at home and feel a great sense of pride that we voluntarily chose to serve our Nation and do our duty, this duty, at this moment in history.
And all of that makes us even more thankful this time of year to be who we are – American Soldiers – Dogface Soldiers! – because while others can wish and hope for peace this holiday season…we deliver it.
So the Command Sergeant Major and I will close with the Dogface Soldiers’ Holiday Wish:
“Peace on earth to people of good will…all others must deal with us. ”
Happy Holidays, everyone!
Rock of the Marne!
Major General Tony Cucolo
Command Sergeant Major Jesse Andrews
Here are some songs of the season that I think are appropriate I encourage you to listen to them all and see the common message. God Bless you each and every one.
