Topic: Hope On Christmas Eve

It was Christmas Eve 1972 in Bangkok, Thailand. My husband was working late that night as an assistant to the chaplain of Crown Bowling Chapel, a U.S. military chapel for all faiths in the heart of the old Siam.

The day was hot and outside the little toys for tots had been passed out to the gathering orphans who had been smiling their way to "just one more gift from Santa." We felt good about giving to those dirty and semi naked smiling urchins who never missed an opportunity to celebrate our holidays when there was something good to receive.

But us, the Americans, the support troops for those in Vietnam? We were homesick, so homesick for an American Christmas. Where was the snow? A better question was 'When was the next monsoon in Mangoland -- you could set your watch by those!

Where was the familiar sounds of "Jingle Bells," "White Christmas," and "O Tannenbaum"? Lots of glitter to buy at the floating markets but where was just one good mall to gather up presents for good ole Mom and Dad?

My husband, Don, said he had a surprise for me, to not miss the last Christmas program of the day, so I walked the half block to the chapel in the dark feeling very alone and empty of any Christmas spirit. As I stepped inside the fragile dwelling, I noticed the place was already filling up.

The Army chaplain was greeting the visitors warmly, I could see that..but suddenly to one side of the chapel I took a double take. "Who was that?" The excitement grew inside me.

There was a whole row of stunning girls but that's not what caught my eye. In the middle of the row of lovelies, sitting quietly, waiting for the midnight mass was Bob Hope. He looked kind of small next to big hairdos and spike heels and flashy crowns. Actually, he looked remarkably ordinary. "Bob Hope!" I said louder in my head - WOW!

Out of his busy schedule, Bob Hope had come to our chapel, in the middle of the night, to share OUR silly Christmas.

Suddenly everything Christmas descended on that small little Army chapel in the middle of busy, downtown Bangkok, and we..? Well, we had Hope!

Attribution:
Written by Nancy (the Notetaker) Troyer, Copyright (c) 8/1/03
Article Reference:
Title: Hope On Christmas Eve
Data Source: Richard G. Wimer
Typist Or Article Provider: David Holwick

Fair Use. Presented for educational purposes only.

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