Posted on 12/25/2007 9:24:44 AM PST by SandRat
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq — Today the birth of the savior will be celebrated by an extended family that is far from their real ones, the 11th Signal Brigade’s chaplain said.
For this special holiday “married and single soldiers here in Iraq are our family,” Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Mark Zerger said.
For those who are Christian the day has a significant meaning for it is about “Christ coming into the world to have a personal relationship with us. That’s the true meaning of Christmas,” the Southern Baptist pastor said.
And, while the brigade soldiers are separated from their families, it is important for those at home to remember their loved ones in Iraq are serving them and the country, even though one of the most important family holidays on the Christian calendar means separate celebration, the chaplain said.
And, for many of the brigade’s soldiers, including those assigned to the 40th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, the 15-month deployment means many will miss two Christmases at home, he said. The 40th, which is part of the 11th, is arriving in Iraq as part of another task force.
“Separation from loved ones is difficult at Christmas,” Zerger said. “I don’t want to minimize the difficulty.”
But, soldiers have responsibilities, which also are assumed by families, and that means separation is part of service to the country, the chaplain said.
As Christ had to carry a cross, “this is our cross to bear,” Zerger said.
Christ suffered greatly and many of Americas armed forces also have given their lives for freedom, he said.
“But, what we (the brigade) will go through for 15 months is nothing compared to what Christ went through,” Zerger said, adding that families who lost a loved one in war can understand the sacrifice.
While he enjoys Christmas trees, gifts and good holiday food, his message is for people to focus on the real meaning of the holiday.
“We need to be more thankful for Christ,” Zerger said.
At noon today at this sprawling camp in Iraq, he will participate in a special Service of Carols with other chaplains.
The religious leaders and the congregation of GIs at Victory Chapel will sing carols that put together a picture of that day more than 2,000 years ago when Christ was born.
“There will be no secular songs, no “Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer,” the chaplain said.
The message in song starts out with “O Little Town of Bethlehem.”
The next carol will be “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” followed by “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear,” then “Love Came Down at Christmas,” and finally “The First Noel.”
Each song builds on the Christmas story and as a group becomes the sermon, Zerger said.
“That is the Christian message to the soldiers here and their families at home,” he said.
Herald/Review senior reporter Bill Hess can be reached at 515-4615 or by e-mail at bill.hess@svherald.com.
FR WAR NEWS!
This is good to read! I was under the impression that Chaplains weren’t allowed to single out Christ anymore, but maybe that’s just the Air Force. Sigh.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.