They are having a big Christmas celebration up at Ali Al Salem
airebase today - all day long from 10:30 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.
They have a Christmas parade, a banquet in the dining facility
(the D-FAC as it is called on base - some of our ITT wags
call it the DEEP-FAT) and a talent show at the recreation hall.
The dining hall is fully decorated with traditional Christmas
Deck the Halls garlands & Santa Clauses & reindeer
and they have beautiful, pleated red & green bunting
encircling an immense gala table.
There is always a small table set just inside the entrance door to the dining hall
with a loop-back cane chair propped against the table.
The table sits on its own with a crisp, clean, white tablecloth
and a table setting and flowers for one - this table is
a tribute to soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
The table is always set to receive them.
On one wall of the D-FAC there are thousands of cards
from school children and people from all over America
wishing our service people well & a speedy journey home.
To walk along and read this wall is a very moving experience.
I am going to slip up there today (it is about a 100-kilometre/60-mile round trip)
and share some Christmas cheer with our ITT folks and the service people.
I have not yet seen an Airedale service dog accompanying a Military Police person,
but I will see one of their dogs when they inspect my vehicle.
I cannot touch these guys because they are working,
but if you could scratch the ears of one of your guys,
that would be the next best thing for me.
I will imagine I am with my big guy Mister McGuire
and we are out at the voice command dog park playing catch
with the tennis ball - a slobbery, cold, wet, slimy tennis ball (grin).
Especially today, I am and will be thinking of my family in America -
my Mary & the Jupiter Airedales & YOU. You, all of you,
are my extended family, both while I am away in Kuwait and when I am home.
We are connected by a purpose, experience & a spirit that comes
from the hearts of our marvelous black & tan friends -
that is our common bond.
I wish the very best for you as the sun comes up on your Christmas day -
that time is about three hours away or more as I type this Christmas card to you.
Have a wonderful time with family and friends - talk for a moment today
with friends and family about all of the service people who are away from home
doing a job that is somewhat thankless at times,
but which is incredibly important to us so that we can have
the peace and safety of our very special country. Trust me,
you appreciate it these things so very much more when you do not have them.
Have a wonderful 2007 and thank you for sharing your joys
and your sorrows and your wisdom throughout 2006.
A big thanks to the originators and moderators of this forum
that make this communication possible.
Happy Holidays to everyone . . . from the sands of Kuwait
On 21 November 2015, Paul crossed the Rainbow Bridge
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