Posted on 12/22/2004 11:18:07 AM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
U.S. troops, holding a Christmas party on Wednesday, celebrated with music, a Christmas tree and even a visit from Santa to their base at Baghdad International Airport.
Soldiers played jazzy Christmas tunes on a piano and a clarinet. Those who attended said that even though they were far from home, they were celebrating the holiday with their Iraqi friends.
"I'm with my soldiers; I'm with the people of Baghdad, and right now that's my family," said Brigadier Gen. Jeffery Hammond, of the 1st Cavalry Division. "So I'm very happy."
The U.S. Army's 1st Cavalry Division is based at Camp Victory, on the airport's premises. The Christmas party was one of several events to mark the holidays.
Iraqi journalists, middle-ranking officials, and civilians working at Camp Victory were invited to the party. But they refused to be filmed by an APTN crew for fear that militants would target them for collaborating with what militants consider to be "enemy forces."
The American soldiers explained to the Iraqis at the party how Christmas traditions are celebrated in the United States.
"Christmas is in your heart, it's in your spirit, and you celebrate it wherever it's at," Staff Sergeant Merrion La Sonde said.
"And we're here in Iraq and we're able to, maybe, share a little bit of our Christmas spirit, which is basically just the love and partnership and friendship with everybody."
Wait until the ACLU hears about this...
I'd like to see someone try to tell these guys they can't celibrate Christmas!
http://homepage.mac.com/bagdemagus/PhotoAlbum13.html
I saved this from nerdwithamachinegun..a civilian working for the CPA in 2003.
LOL!
British, U.S., Australian and Japanese army officers decorate a Christmas tree at a military base in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, December 21, 2004. British Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites) made a surprise first visit to Baghdad on Tuesday amidst intense security and hailed officials orchestrating Iraq (news - web sites)'s January elections as heroes. REUTERS/Atef Hassan
The tree returns home…
http://www.eylerz.net/works/traditions_-_pagan.htm
are united around that Christmas tree.
Hmmm...
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