Merry Christmas To Our Troops ... videos

Merry Christmas To Our Troops

Merry Christmas From Baghdad

Man Sends Christmas Trees to Iraq: "Operation Christmas Tree"

I'll Be Going Home For Christmas

Freedom's Watch: "Thank You" to the troops

Freedom's Watch ran TV ads thanking our troops for their service to our country. Watch it here.

Christmas ... a tribute to our U.S. Troops worldwide

It is Christmas ... and we are remembering our troops worldwide who are away from home on this Christmas night. A tribute to show our thanks for their sacrifice.

Christmas Day ... the Reason for the Season

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."
~ Luke 2: 8-11

Spc. Ted Dickson in Middle East ... Merry Christmas and thank you

Cathy Dickson's son, Ted, is currently deployed to Kuwait. Cathy blogs at United Conservatives of Virginia and Powhantan Life, and is a proud Marine mom.

Here is an email from her that was read on the Lee Brothers' show today. Our thanks to Cathy and her family for their sacrifice while Ted is away at war, and to Ted for being one of our heroes. Merry Christmas!

Cathy wrote:

We would like to send our love and Christmas blessings to our son, Spc. Ted Dickson, 23, of Powhatan, Virginia.

Ted graduated from Powhatan High School in June of 2002. Two weeks later he was in Marine boot camp in Paris Island, SC. During his four years with the United States Marine Corps, he served in Security Forces and the Infantry. Despite almost losing an eye and with scar tissue on the cornea, his scores on the rifle range actually improved.

He was determined to get to Iraq (we suspect he memorized the eye chart) and was deployed in time to participate in several operations in Anbar Province, including Operation Iron Fist and Operation Steel Curtain in 2005 - 2006.

After he finished his enlistment, he attended Virginia Commonwealth University. He joined the Army National Guard a year ago in December and is currently deployed in Kuwait with Delta Company of the 3-116th out of Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Ted, may God bless and keep you safe always. May you and the men of Delta Company have a blessed Christmas and know that we love and miss you so very much.

All of our love,
Mom, Dad and Carrie

Semper Fi.

To President Bush: Thank you for your leadership at a time of war

It is Christmas Eve and the Christian world pauses to celebrate the birth of Christ. This is a good time to thank President George W. Bush for his leadership at a time of war ... after the largest attack ever against the U.S. six years ago, we have been safe from terrorism while our Armed Forces fight over there and not here on the homefront.

Thank you, Mr. President. We wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Here's to a great 2008!

President makes Christmas Eve phone calls to U.S. Armed Forces

President George W. Bush made Christmas Eve telephone calls to members of the Armed Forces while at Camp David today.

In his weekly radio address President Bush said, "America is blessed to have men and women willing to step forward to defend our freedoms and keep us safe from our enemies. We are thankful for their courage and their dedication to duty. We pray for their safety. And we wish them a Merry Christmas, wherever they serve."

Amen.

SWAC-GOP Christmas Greetings

May you have a blessed
Christmas
with family and friends.

If you are traveling, have a safe trip.

To President George W. Bush ...
your leadership has kept us safe at a time of war.
Thank you.

To our Armed Forces ...
you have sacrificed to protect America.
Thank you.

To our Military Families ...
you have sacrificed with your loved ones at war.
Thank you.

To our Electeds ...
we are appreciative of your public service to the citizens.

To our Volunteers ...
you are the heart of the Republican party.

To our Grassroots Leaders ...
we are grateful for your selfless service.

Merry Christmas
and
Happy New Year!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas ... from Jim Gilmore

Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

I want to take a moment during this season to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and happy holidays. This is the time of year when we all give thanks for the many blessings we have received and we reflect on how grateful we are for our friendships.

I am grateful and thankful for your friendship and support.

Sincerely,

James S. Gilmore

Merry Christmas and thank you to U.S. Armed Forces overseas....

My dad, who passed away in 1975, was a Navy veteran from World War II. He was 19 years old when he joined the Navy and went to war.

When I was growing up he was a Sunday School teacher for 12-year-olds in our Baptist church.

Dad's favorite Christmas hymn was "I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day" ... the words had touched him because of his service during war. I've missed him terribly the past 32 years and think of him every Christmas when I hear this song.

Our military men and women are working this Christmas, many far from home and away from their families. Let us remember those currently deployed or who have served to protect our freedoms and to keep us safe.

This is for Dad ... and for all our military members, past and present.

I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.”

Christmas in the Shenandoah Valley ... Staunton's Stonewall Jackson Hotel

Main lobby of the Stonewall Jackson Hotel and Conference Center in Staunton.

Decorated for Christmas, the hotel is elegant in an old Southern way....

Doors invite guests to enter....

Balcony decorations....





Cozy fireplace in Stonewall Jackson's lounge area....

Had family staying at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel this weekend while in town visiting so I took the opportunity to photograph their Christmas decor....

Photos by SWAC Girl

Christmas in the Shenandoah Valley ... the doors and windows of historic downtown Staunton

Zelma's vintage clothing store on Beverley Street is owned by a conservative young lady whose military husband has served in Iraq. Check out the "Win the War" sign in the shop.

Zelma's front window ... "We have seen His star in the east and are come to worship Him." -- Matthew 2:2, KJV
Celebrate! party and card shop.
Beverley Street looking east early in the morning....
Zynodoa ... stop in for a drink with friends.

Grandma's Bait and Pampered Palate Restaurant....
Beverley Street looking east....
Pen & Paper....
Beverley Street looking east....

Staunton City Hall anchors the western end of downtown....
Back In Thyme's holiday window....
The Clock Tower Restaurant and Bar festively decorated for the holidays ... and will be open on Christmas Day.

Window display on Beverley Street....

Photos by SWAC Girl

We threw a party ... and Santa showed up!!

We threw a big Christmas party for family and friends ... and Santa showed up on a big red fire truck decorated with Christmas lights and fireman "elves" handing out candy canes!

It was a hoot as word spread throughout the house that Santa was outside on a fire truck -- yeah, right, I said -- but they assured me that he really was outside -- so I wandered into the front yard and, sure enough, there on the road was a huge fire truck! It hit its siren, the colorful decorative lights were festive and twinkling, and Santa was sitting up on the back of the truck waving and "ho-ho-ho-ing" to all! What a treat and a surprise ... and it was great to know that Santa knew where my house was just in case we ever needed him for an emergency!

Fun was had by all and it was great to visit with friends into the wee hours of the morning. My parents joined us in the festivities ... the twenty-somethings rollicked (all 20 of them) ... the others ate, drank, and were merry (all 40 of them) ... the walls of the house widened out to accommodate holiday cheer at Christmas time.

And we were reassured that, if needed, Santa was right down the road.... :)

Christmas cooking & shopping & friends....

It has been a busy week for this elf trying to tie up loose ends before Christmas ... mailing out-of-town packages ... searching for last-minute gifts and stocking stuffers ... grocery shopping ... cleaning ... making wreaths....

I have been in the kitchen often the past few days preparing for the weekend when family and friends will gather to eat, drink, and be merry! Christmas homemade goodies that we enjoy year-to-year include fudge, toffee, forgotten cookies, coconut macaroons, gingerbread men, a mocha fudge tort, and more.

This year we are having a casual Christmas supper get-together with chili, Brunswick stew, ham biscuits, tortilla wraps, salad, and all kinds of fixings. Forget the fancy stuff -- we get plenty of that at other gatherings!

If you hear a ruckus it will be the guitar hero "band" as a room full of twenty-somethings rock out downstairs! Meanwhile, the rest of us will be listening to Mannheim Steamroller play Christmas tunes on the stereo as we enjoy the company of family and friends. The walls of a house always "widen out" when friends and family are there ... and ours will definitely need to widen out this weekend!

Christmas is almost here....

Wreaths at Staunton's National Cemetery

Wreaths were laid yesterday at National Cemetery on Richmond Road in Staunton at the same time wreaths were being placed at Arlington Cemetery. Virginia Civil Air Patrol members took part as well as those from the community in remembering military members who have sacrificed for our country, and honoring those who currently serve.

The Waynesboro News Virginian reported:

... the wreaths, each adorned with a red ribbon, a U.S. flag and a flag representing each military branch, as well as a POW/MIA flag, were placed. Five were place on tombstones, representing veterans from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. The Merchant Marine and POW/MIA wreaths were placed near the flagpole.

SWACer Frank Green, a member of the Virginia Civil Air Patrol, was pictured on the front page of the NV placing a wreath on a headstone.

Congressman Goodlatte: Thanking our troops during holidays

Providing for our Armed Forces....

With the holiday season fully upon us and the rush to complete last minute Christmas present purchases underway, it is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle, and in the process somehow lose sight of more important things.

This is a blessed season marked by the company of family and friends, a child-like anticipation of presents under the tree, and perhaps even the hope of a midnight snowfall. However, this holiday season, like so many before, there are servicemen and women on the front lines who find themselves far from the comforts of hearth and home. They serve on aircraft carriers in distant oceans, keep the peace on volatile borders, patrol the skies of international hot spots, and their work is difficult, lonely, and often very dangerous. Theirs is a service marked by humility and born of a love of country, and is of the utmost importance in preserving the very freedoms that make the celebration of this season possible.

With that in mind, the House of Representatives took steps to ensure that these courageous men and women have the resources they need to carry out their important missions. We overwhelmingly passed the National Defense Authorization Act, which addresses the key priorities necessary to fight terrorism and protect our nation.

This bipartisan legislation provides a 3.5% pay increase for military personnel and it also prohibits increases in their costs for the military health care program, also known as TRICARE.

Additionally, this legislation ensures that our service members have the necessary equipment, weapons and training to complete their missions. The funds authorized by this bill will be used to train U.S. forces, purchase protective gear, repair older equipment, and transport equipment and personnel around the world. Perhaps most importantly, the National Defense Authorization Act includes funding for state-of-the-art Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, a top priority for our troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The National Defense Authorization Act also includes important provisions to address the problems experienced by injured service members as they navigate the recovery system after returning home. Specifically, this legislation creates the Wounded Warrior Resource Center to serve as a single point of contact for service members, their families, and primary caregivers to report issues with facilities, obtain health care, and receive benefits information.

As we spend the next several days sharing the Holiday Season with our families and friends, we should pause to remember the sacrifices of all of those who strive to make this nation a better place to live - especially those brave men and women defending our freedoms far from home. I wish them, and all of you, a joyous Holiday season, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Christmas in the Shenandoah Valley ... the Reason for the Season

Christ United Methodist Church's contribution to the Gypsy Hill Park holiday light show.

Members of Calvary Baptist Church in Staunton in a live Nativity Friday night in Gypsy Hill Park. The live Nativity will be back tonight from 6-8:00 p.m. weather permitting.

With out-of-town guests visiting, we took a drive last night through the SWAC area to look at the Christmas lights. Gypsy Hill Park was extremely busy ... perhaps because of the ice and snow in tonight's forecast ... and the most popular display was Calvary Baptist Church's live Nativity scene. With goats and sheep, church members portraying those involved in the first Christmas, hot chocolate for cold visitors, and Christmas music, it was a reminder of the Reason for the Season....

Bill Bolling's 2007 Christmas ornaments

The tradition of a Virginia-inspired pewter Christmas ornament from Lt. Governor Bill Bolling and his wife, Jean Ann, began two years ago at the Republican Advance held at the Homestead. It continued last year ... and this year was no exception.

The gifts were distributed at breakfast Saturday morning at the Advance, and this year they commemorated the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown.

With a depiction of the three ships that sailed to America -- the Susan Constant, the Godspeed and the Discovery -- the inscription around the edge says:

America's 400th Anniversary
Jamestown Settlement 1607-2007

On the back is written:

Bill and Jean Ann Bolling
2007

Crafted by Virginia Pewtersmith in Richmond, the enclosed card said:

This article is cast and crafted by hand in fine pewter by skilled, local artisans. Each piece is unique. Slight variations are normal, since we make every piece one at a time. We hope that you enjoy your item from Virginia Pewtersmith, Richmond, VA.

Thank you -- and a Merry Christmas -- to Lt. Governor and Mrs. Bolling for a beautiful Virginia keepsake that is proudly hanging on my Christmas tree.

A Different Christmas Poem

May God bless our American Armed Forces

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."

"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at Pearl on a day in December."
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."

"My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam,
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile."

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother

Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.
So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."