In December, 1914, the world was caught up in the horrors of World War I.  But on Christmas Eve, on the battlefields of Flanders, the guns of the Allied and German troops fell silent.  Soon, the sounds of war were replaced by the beautiful melody of “Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht” (“Silent Night, Holy Night”) emanating from the trenches of the German soldiers.  The Christmas Truce of 1914 had begun.  By Christmas morning, German and Allied troops met each other between the battle lines in no-man’s land, to shake hands, exchange small gifts of cigarettes and jam, and most importantly, bury their fallen soldiers.

The truce was short-lived.  But it proved to the world that even during times of war, human kindness, if given a chance, will triumph over evil.

Merry Christmas.  Peace on earth.  Good will toward all.

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