December 22, 2006

Christmas Supplement

Soldier is grateful to attend Christmas Mass during war

By Paul Buckler

Special to The Criterion

On Christmas Day in 1944, in the midst of World War II, I asked my commanding officer if I could go to church. We were encamped near a small village in France.

He surprised me and said yes even though there was heavy patrolling on both sides of the combat zone.

I went with two other soldiers into the village. We carried our rifles on our shoulders.

About one-fourth of the top of the church was shelled out. It was snowing fairly hard right down through the opening.

The church was full of French civilians and American soldiers.

I was very thankful to be able to celebrate Christmas 1944 at that church in France, and will never forget that Mass.

(Paul Buckler is a member of St. Mary Parish in Richmond.) †

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