| Home | A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM REVEREND DENISE HARGREAVES |
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Dear Family, Much is in the newspapers and on the television and radio
news programmes at present about the situation, and more particularly of the
frequent deaths, of our forces in In a few weeks it will be Christmas and all of us, I pray, will have a wonderful and happy time with our families, especially our children and grandchildren. I asked my husband (formerly a Marine) what happens to service personnel on active service during the Christmas period, as he had experienced this on a couple of occasions years ago. He told me that whilst all the usual patrols and guard duties still have to be carried out, personnel are encouraged to celebrate Christmas with their ‘oppos’, and the officers try to ensure that everyone is happy and looking forward to being back with their families in the future. The unit chaplain will conduct a Christmas service, often in the open air, and favourite carols will be sung. After the service a special Christmas meal will be served to the men by the officers and then the personnel on patrols and guard duties will be relieved and a second meal will be served. Most of the personnel will have quiet moments when they think of their families and quite often a few private tears will be shed. As Christmas approaches and the hustle and bustle of this occasion takes over, I wonder if, on Christmas Day, perhaps as you sit down to your Christmas Dinner, you could say the grace and include a short prayer for our military people on active service far from home. Finally, with apologies to Charles Dickens and Tiny Tim, have a wonderful and happy Christmas and “May God bless us, each and every one!” Denise |
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