Dear Editor,

A little girl woke up on Christmas morning and hurried downstairs to see a scraggly Christmas tree decorated with homemade ornaments and a string of popcorn.

Four small gifts sat under the tree.

She waited patiently for her parents to gather in the chilly room, and her father started a fire in the fireplace.

She insisted her mother open the first gift, a centerpiece she made at school out of pine cones.

Then she handed her father his gift. He opened it to find a paperweight made from a smooth stone with the words “I love you Daddy” and a heart painted on it in red. Her parents hugged her and thanked her.

Then her mother gave her one of the two remaining presents. She unwrapped it to see a doll made from cloth scraps, yarn and old buttons. “She’s beautiful, Mommy! Did you make this?”

Her mother nodded.

Then her father handed her the last gift. By its appearance, she guessed it was a ball, but when she unwrapped it, she discovered a large orange. She held it up to her nose and took a big whiff. It smelled so good.

She didn’t want to eat it right away, so she sat it on her dresser in her small bedroom.

That night before she went to bed, she took another big whiff, savored the smell, and said, “This has been such a good Christmas. Thank you, God.”

The children who suffered the scarcity and deprivation of the Great Depression went on defend the world’s freedom during World War II. Why were they so strong? Why were they so resilient? Why were they so determined and innovative?

Over the last 20 years I have conducted so many funerals of these patriots of the Greatest Generation. One by one they are leaving this world they defended. Let’s hope we don’t forget the lessons they taught us.

Pastor Joe Ellis

Colerain Presbyterian Church

Martins Ferry