From the Treehouse crew to soldiers, sailors, and all who serve and protect us from harm, especially those far from home and family. You are valued and we pray for you and your family.
No matter where your service has taken you, we pray you find the warmth and love of the season, that your heart is filled with the joy of the Incarnation, God become man. May the picture of the Christ child in the stable with Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and angels fill you and keep you this season as we all wait and pray for your safe return home.
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Amen! ?
Amen
Memories of holidays spent overseas. It was odd celebrating Christmas on a warm day!
I miss not being able to like a post (not complaining) just saying. 🙂
Love this one.
Amen.
I just did yours.
Thank-you.
We can never be thankful enough for all who serve and have served.
God Bless each and everyone of you, your families, and loved ones.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
MAGA/KAG
From a 22 year veteran, my thanks to all those who have gone down range. You are not forgotten.
Thank you for your service.
20 years here my friend, I add in my thanks.
Thank so much for your service and devotion to our country.
Amen. May God bless you and keep you in His Heart, as well as your families. Merry Christmas.
We thank you, God bless you, and we LOVE you!
I recognize Santa Claus but please tell me that’s not the Infant Jesus in the crib? (I should also mention that I’m a US Army veteran.)
Thank you for your service.
I keep coming back to the image and I believe I owe “Menagerie” an apology. The “Santa Claus” figure undoubtedly represents a US military veteran working as a department store Santa. The veteran is reflecting on multiple issues with the Infant Jesus there as a reminder of “the reason for the season.”
We thank all of our armed servicemembers, our firefighters, our police, and all of our first responders who keep us safe. God watch over each and every one of you. Merry Christmas!
So true MTeresa
And thanks for the nice remember to the families.
While their loved ones are out serving as soldiers, police or fire fighters the family members sit at home on Christmas hoping and praying and waiting for the step on the porch and the door to open ( if they are state side first responders).
The Christmas’ they celebrate are so very different, but just as special and thankful, as ours.
Many thanks
Amen.
You should post more Menagerie…
God Bless us, everyone.
Beautiful post, thank you Menagerie.
A beautiful post ! Thanks to all who serve also as caregivers to the elderly and the sick . The story goes , one time Mother Teresa was showing a visitor the home for the dying and witnessed the loving care that was being given to the dying n the streets of Calcutta , the visitor said , “ Mother , you couldn’t pay me a million dollars to do this , “ Mothet Teresa without missing a beat replied , “ I wouldn’t do it for a million dollars either ! “
She did it because she saw her Lord Jesus in every face .
May this be the way we serve and the way we roll always !
You made a grown man cry twice today Menagerie with your posts. God bless you and Conner and all those who serve and have served. God bless our President and God bless America.
Merry Christmas to all…
Amen.
Thank you to all that served and are still serving. I am glad to have my son-in-law home for Christmas this year. Many safe returns.
And 40% of the military votes in the swing states were “lost”
All of my fellow veterans and especially those on active duty, plus our reservists…I have nothing but warm and loving thoughts for you and your families again this holiday season. We are the immune system for our country, The United States of America.
I salute each and every one of you!
I served from 1980 to 93. Rose from a Private to a Capt, protecting the Constitution not for thanks from citizens.
What was America is no more and Jan 6 will determine if the Constitution prevails. If Joe is installed then replaced by Harris, every service member show find a way to resist. Then citizens can thank them for restoring our Republic.
Always out front.
“What was America is no more and Jan 6 will determine if the Constitution prevails”
Indeed, it’s sobering how quickly it was lost.
Through carelessness and apathy when reacting to subterfuge. They own the education system from grade school to university, the outcome was inevitable when they own the kids.
Merry Christmas, happy warriors.
Several years ago, I was visiting the military graves of some family members and noticed the extraordinary decorations on each grave, Christmas wreaths with red bows. Needless to say, overwhelming. learned that this was ‘Wreaths across America’ begun by a woman in Maine and now across the country. We donate every year. At each gravesite, the name of the Vet is mentioned and thanked for their service. Thanks for remembering, Another Vet.
Because Iraq was going to invade us,
Now here I thought you joined the army for military welfare ,free stuff , .
not to mention under obama hillz we were killing Christians in syria , lol with most of America thinking that the gay ,muslim lover Chris Stevens was a hero ,
News flash > under obama we were the enemy, if you don’t believe me ask the Nun , add on the endless , useless CIA wars and you’ll find all this military love is misguided ,
how hard up for military welfare are you to serve under evil an devil , jihadist , occultist, criminals ,
I never met a single solitary soul in the Army that joined to get “military welfare” or “free stuff”. You seem to forget that the recipients of what you term, “welfare” and “free stuff”, have a thankless, high stress, dangerous and life threatening job to do, for very low pay, to get that “welfare” and “free stuff”.
You seem nice.
Any moment Iraq was going to attack Pearl Harbor. We had to act. And besides, John McCain would have been heart broken if we hadn’t. But at least the Iraq war only lasted a few months like that other one in Afghanistan.
Save your venom for those who sent them in harms way.
Menagerie,you are a special person and prove it again with this post. A Very Merry Christmas to you and all the CTH family.
I am blessed and elated that my Reserve Officer daughter will be joining me from Christmas day through New Years Eve. I just sent this Christmas poem for her to share with her platoon.
Thank you again Menagerie for a heart warming post.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas AND thanks to all soldiers, sailors and all who serve and protect us from harm!
God Bless You.
After listening to the poem, all I can say to my fellow vets is, much love and respect and have a wonderful Christmas.
Simply wonderful ???
Please keep the safety of our United States Merchant Marine, in your thoughts and prayers. Many, while working for a paycheck rather than securing our safety and liberty for smaller pay–like our military forces, may also be in the military (Naval) reserves.
While at sea, the merchant mariner face dangers, too. They are often neglected since they make a good paycheck. Yet, they are away from their homes and families. The merchant fleet’s seamen are closely aligned with the US Navy. Thank you all…
Thank you Menagerie for your kind words and your thoughtful post.
And thank you all who continue that great tradition of service to our nation.
May the Good Lord watch over our brothers and sisters
and keep them all safe.
Amen.
Amen.
My apache pilot, spec ops officer, infantry officer, and nuclear SWO are expected to be here by Christmas morning :-)…
By the way, a few years ago, “the little guy” sent us this youtube before he departed for Afghanistan, and we realized that we couldn’t think of any toys to get him. Dilemmas that one doesn’t anticipate!
Outstanding! Enjoy the best Christmas presents you could have!!
We get 2 of 3 this year. One, is in our prayers and “over there”.
This brought tears. How we take for granted their sacrifice. Protect them Lord.
Life goes on, with all the many essential services, and thanks to them.
Bob recounts his experience as an Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper and the disconcerting responsibility of delivering devastating news to families, even on Christmas Eve.
“Bob Welsh recites his original poem, My Christmas Eve https://www.bobwelsh.com”
3 mins 57 secs. : • Feb 2, 2012
You may need some cheese to go with the onions.
Thanks to many, whose work goes on, unsung, but in their own way brings joy to the world.
What a wonderful tribute.
To my active duty brothers-in-arms and to those who have gone before you–I, as a veteran, thank you for standing watch and doing what needs to be done so that we all can enjoy our freedoms. Your gift to us is priceless, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. May our Dear Lord bless you and keep you safe!
Found in the bin… 🙁
Thank you, to all of them – to all of you.
My father told me that during the Battle of the Bulge he was part of a quick Christmas service in heavily damaged church. The church was totally surrounded by heavily armed soldiers standing guard.
I think every Christmas I think of that.
My niece (US Navy Sailor) was deployed on the USS Arlington last Christmas (her first deployment). This year she gets to come home a few days after Christmas but I’ll take it!
A Very Merry Christmas to all who’ve served and are currently serving. We love you! ??
Thank You to all that serve.
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.
Semper Fi my fellow Americans
Amen.
and a little Irving Berlin White Christmas:
Menagerie, Thank you for remembering Our Countries Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen in Far-Away lands. Prayers tonight for all who are on watch. Hand Salute to All!!!
This is a perfect pitch message to a huge and important group in our society who are too often ignored until politics rears its ugly head. Military members sign up knowing full well they are giving up many aspects of civilian life including taking off for holidays, and that sometimes during those holidays they may be in dangerous situations.
God bless them all for their willingness to serve.
GB…Don’t forget…We who were in the military KNOW what that oath means…”Against All Enemies, Both Foreign and Domestic”…when the clarion sounds, no matter how old one is, they will come to the aid of their country…Make no mistake about that…
Merry Christmas!!!
We have a veterans organization down the road from us. The lady who runs it was featured on Mike Rowe’s returning the favor, on Facebook watch. We went to drop off a donation. On the wall is a poster of the American Flag. With this on it.
We don’t know them all
But we owe them all. Thank you, and Merry Christmas.
And how do we the regular people serve? We are first to be living witnesses. “Do not look away”. Till we are called to higher service.
God bless you, Menagerie! I remember standing a 12 hour watch on Christmas day one year, and finally able to take leave in January to visit relatives. It was just a a handful of us who stayed behind for about 3 days, so our mates could go home with their families and see their wives and kids. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Yup. I know what it’s like. I spent 1970 Christmas in Darmstadt, Germany, and 1971 Christmas in Vietnam. Long way from home.
Take care everyone where ever you are.