The end-of-year holiday season of 2019 is upon us, and it seems that every year the wishes of peace on earth and good will to all go unanswered. That should never stop us from trying again, and again, and again.
Across our great country, too many people are engaged in self-centered activities designed to harm others. Instead of focusing on their responsibilities to the people they're supposed to serve, many elected officials choose to pursue their own personal agendas full of vendettas. Payback, and pure hate.
As we celebrate the holiday season, we should contemplate our role in the whole healing process and think about what we can do to make our community, our country, our world a better place. It has to start someplace – make it start with you.
With that in mind, let's begin by giving thanks all of the individuals and organizations who step forward to help make someone's Christmas a little brighter – a genuine "Thank You" for your heartfelt efforts. The names and programs are many, as is the satisfaction and gratitude that comes from them. To those who chose to get involved, you are part of what makes a community special and gives hope to the future.
In the spirit of the season, TV, radio and newspapers go out of their way to deluge us with wonderful accounts of people doing good things for other people. Too bad we can't bottle it and use it throughout the year.
There are many individuals and groups whose service won't end just because it's a holiday. Many of them will stand on the line, teetering between tranquility and trouble on Christmas Day.
We wish a safe and quiet holiday season for all members of the United States Armed Forces serving throughout the world, especially those serving in harm's way.
We wish for a calm Christmas Eve and Day for the nurses, doctors and others who will staff our health care facilities and ensure that care continues so others can celebrate the day.
For the police officers patrolling the streets on this holiday, we sincerely wish that the only thing they have to write in their logs is "no incidents today." May they also find a still moment to call their families, wish them a Merry Christmas, and remind them that they'll be home soon.
To the emergency medical services personnel who will be on duty waiting to respond to a call for help – we hope that for one 24-hour period they never get it.
To the volunteer firefighters, who stand ready to drop whatever they're doing and respond to a call for help from wherever they're at and whatever they're doing, a day to complete a meal with their families and enjoy the company of friends.
Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanza at this time of year, the staff at the Town and Country News wishes a safe holiday season to all of our readers, and our fondest hope for a happy 2020.