Shelby Shopper Shelby NC
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1513556
Page 10 - shelby shopper & info - 704/484-1047 www.shelbyinfo.com Thursday, December 21-December 27, 2023 SOLDIERS From Page 1 was in the army, sent to his parents in Pennsylvania during WWII. Notice the palm tree instead of an evergreen. His Dad was in the South Pa- cific Theater. Woody served in the Air Force and was away from his family for Christmas while stationed in Thailand and Iceland. Letters home to his family and gifts mailed from his three daughters made it feel like Christmas wherever he was. The Korean Conflict had soldiers stationed in a part of the world where we knew little about the country. No one ex- pected the cold or heavy snow that hit Korea in 1952. Let- ters home requested socks, gloves, and toboggans. Cpl. Jack Whitworth from Cher- ryville shared that on Christ- mas Eve 1952, he spent the night in a fox hole when the temperature got below freez- ing, and Jack was never warm after that night. His wife Linda shared that Jack always had a blanket on, even in the summer. "I'll Be Home for Christmas" quickly became popular as personnel tried to continue traditions like Christ- mas trees. Having a special Christmas meal was the goal of every command. My older brother John spent five Christmases in Vietnam and Clark Air Force Base. I remember my Mom would write letters to him every week. Her favorite hymn was "Silent Night." From Christmas Eve until late in the evening of Christmas Day, she would play the song and look at the table where a place was set for John. One year, he was able to get access to a phone on Christmas Day and called home for three minutes, strictly enforced as others were waiting to call home, too. I still hear my mother singing the words to Silent Night like a lullaby, "Sleep in Heavenly peace; Sleep in Heavenly peace." After 911 and the war on terror, soldiers in the Middle East and Afghanistan became dependent on the military Taking a break doing a crossword puzzle are Airmen TSgts John Weller, seated, and Bruce Hanke, who were stationed at Tuy Hoa Airbase, Vietnam. postal system to get letters and packages to personnel around the world. In 2005, Shelby na- tive Patrick Tiernan, Jr., was based in Iraq with the 3rd Battalion 6th Marine Regiment, took advantage of technology to stay connected with his family. "I'll Be Home for Christmas." was played on the base radio station and back in the States. Whether through letters, calls, or digi- tal messages, the song held the promise of being home with family, bridging the dis- tance between soldiers and their loved ones during the holiday season. As we reflect on the sto- ries of soldiers through dif- ferent wars, we realize the importance of the family staying connected to their loved one who was deployed using letters, care packages, and songs they enjoyed. With modern technology, people may now use Face- Time or video conferencing to see their loved ones over- seas. It becomes clear that the songs of Christmas have been a source of comfort and hope, even in the most challenging times. The timeless melodies of "Silent Night" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas" remind us that the spirit of the holiday season surpasses time and place, offering a connection to home for those who have sacrificed so much for our country. This Christmas, stop and say a prayer for all those deployed around the globe, serving locally as law en- forcement officers, EMTs, firefighters, and medical per- sonnel who give up time with their families so you may enjoy being home for Christ- mas. Marines in Iraq decorate their tree for the holiday. I-85 EXIT 104 • 570 Tribal Rd. I-85 EXIT 104 • 570 Tribal Rd. Blacksburg, SC 29702 Blacksburg, SC 29702 sheltonfi reworks.com OPEN 9-9 ALL YEAR OPEN 9-9 ALL YEAR h sh sh sh l el elto to to fi fi fi fi fi nfi nfi firew ewor orks ks ks com om h sh sh sh l el el elto to to fi fi fi fi fi fi fi fi fi fi nfi nfi nfirew ewor or orks ks ks com om Celebrate NEW YEARS elebrate NEW YEARS with with HOME HOME OF THE OF THE BIG BIG ONES! ONES! 864-839-4900 864-839-4900 Hours: M-F 8-5:30 A utomotive + 704-482-0441 INCLUDING INCLUDING IMPORTS IMPORTS We Sell 1900 ELIZABETH AVE. SHELBY, NC Charlie Heston, Owner-Tech WE NOW OFFER: AUTO GLASS REPLACEMENT & REPAIR FULL SERVICE AUTO REPAIR FULL SERVICE AUTO REPAIR FULL SERVICE AUTO REPAIR Come see our selection of "BUY HERE-PAY HERE" pre-owned vehicles. We Celebrate Christmas We Celebrate Christmas THE SAVIOUR IS BORN Luke 1 The Birth of Jesus Foretold 26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabri- el to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." 34"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[c] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God." 38"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. Mary Visits Elizabeth 39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40where she en- tered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was fi lled with the Holy Spirit. 42In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accom- plished!" Mary's Song 46 And Mary said: "My soul glorifi es the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their in- most thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has fi lled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers." Luke 2 The Birth of Jesus 1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the fi rst census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And ev- eryone went to his own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Naza- reth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her fi rstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. The Shepherds and the Angels 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fi elds nearby, keeping watch over their fl ocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrifi ed. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will fi nd a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has hap- pened, which the Lord has told us about." 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Jo- seph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible NIV