MERRY CHRISTMAS—AND JOYEUX NOËL
December 23rd, 2009 | 1:02 pm
65 years ago this was the greeting to our troops stationed in France who had just liberated that country 4 months earlier. It was a fierce winter with more snow and colder temperatures than had been seen in any living person’s memory. The Battle of the Bulge was raging with desperate conditions for fighting men and the local populace; some feared the outcome of the war hung in the balance. But our troops then, just as they had in too many conflicts past, endured. Many found a way, even if for a fleeting moment, to pause and recognize the day and its importance. Some had the luxury of receiving gifts from home, others a chance to write a loved one a message on an Army issued Christmas card such as the one below. We came across this card in the course of my research for The Monuments Men and set it aside for use this year as a way of reminding us all how fortunate we are….to not be in a combat zone, to be able to enjoy this day with family and loved ones without risk of life or hardships of a winter outdoors with no shelter or food. I also wanted it to serve as reminder to us all about the millions of young men and women in uniform who are stationed all over the world, walking a wall, on duty, doing their best—many at risk of life—to preserve the freedom and way of life we enjoy.
The official U.S. Army Christmas Card that Monuments Man Robert Posy sent home to his wife and son in December 1944.
So this Christmas in particular, on behalf of our team and the Monuments Men and women, we say “Merry Christmas to all; peace and safekeeping”.
Until the new year, be well.
