It’s always interesting to see how the military, and even the different branches within it, navigate “the holidays” at this time of year.\u00a0 Some, it seems, sincerely think mentioning the Christian celebration that occurs at this time every year is somehow forbidden.<\/p>\n
For the record, however, Secretary of Defense James Mattis<\/strong> didn’t hesitate to send a message to the Armed Forces saying “Merry Christmas<\/a><\/strong>.”<\/p>\n The New York National Guard<\/strong> participated in an uncensored\u00a0Christmas<\/strong> Eve Road March<\/a>.<\/p>\n Task Force Raider<\/strong> in Poland “spread Christmas<\/strong> cheer<\/a>” at a local orphanage.<\/p>\n The US Air Force<\/strong> continues to support Operation Christmas<\/strong> Drop<\/a> over the Micronesian islands in an ongoing annual tradition<\/a>.<\/p>\n Naval Hospital Bremerton<\/strong> managed to write up an entire article<\/a> on the “holidays<\/strong>“, including a tree-lighting, without mentioning “Christmas,” as did the Fleet Activities at Yokosuka — which had a “festival of trees<\/a>” and “holiday carols” — but no Christmas (except for the Grinch).<\/p>\n The Christmas-free Christmas article may be a Navy “tradition,” as another article at NAS Pensacola<\/strong><\/a> covered the “Selected Children’s Christmas<\/strong><\/em> Party” — but you’d only know that if you read the captions to the accompanying photos.\u00a0 In the article itself, it was the Selected Children’s Holiday<\/strong><\/em> Party.<\/p>\n Misawa Airbase<\/strong>, Japan, for its part, wasn’t afraid to say it had an actual Christmas tree<\/a>, as was the VA<\/a> at Columbia, SC.<\/p>\n US military participation in religious holidays isn’t limited to Christmas.\u00a0 US Army Chaplain (Col) Schmuel Felzenberg<\/strong>, the senior chaplain for the 1st Infantry Division, lit the Menorah<\/strong><\/a> at the White House in early December.<\/p>\n Columbus AFB, MS, held what is probably a more traditional event<\/a> within the military, which is a joint Christmas<\/strong> tree lighting and Menorah<\/strong> lighting.\u00a0 (While many are comfortable secularizing Christmas, few will do the same to Hanukkah with a “holiday candelabrum.”)<\/p>\n ADVERTISEMENT<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
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