I’m sure that most of us know service members who will be far from home at Christmas.
During my own service in the Navy, I was home for Christmas just four times in 21 years, either at sea or overseas in an era before the internet or cell phones. Letters and cards from home were a special joy then; now, it’s much easier to keep in touch by email or modern phone.
So, do it!
Reach out to your military relative or friend with the assurance that there is family at home that loves them. And remember the main reason we celebrate Christmas!
As I’m writing this, our American Legion Post is preparing to participate in the Christmas parade in Houston on 14 December; we’ll have our Color-Guard in the lead.
I wish a warm and merry Christmas and a bright and happy New Year to you all!
Texas County area veterans organizations:
- Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 473 meets on the last Thursday of each month at 1800 at their Post Meeting Hall on Highway 63 north of Cabool.
- American Legion Post 559 meets at 1800 on the second Tuesday of each month at the VFW Post 6337 meeting hall in Licking.
- Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6337 meets each third Monday of the month at 1730 in Licking at their Meeting Hall on Main Street just south of Highway 32.
- Fleet Reserve Association Branch 364 meets at 1430 every fourth Sunday of each month at the American Legion Post 41 meeting hall in Houston. The FRA exists to serve all veterans and active-duty members of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard.
- American Legion Post 41 meets at 1800 on the second Thursday of each month at their meeting hall on the west end of Chilton Oil Company in Houston (just north of Pizza Hut). Changes to membership eligibility now allow U.S. veterans of all branches and periods of service to join the American Legion.
- Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7222 meets at 1800 on the first Thursday of each month at their meeting hall just east of Summersville.
Houston resident Robert E. Simpson is a retired U.S. Navy chief electronics technician who served from 1969 to 1990. Email gfjjkaa@gmail.com.