Don Surber brings us the story of 171 Texas National Guard soldiers, members of the 436th Chemical Company, whose deployment to Afghanistan was delayed until after the holidays, but those soldiers weren’t home, they were at Ft. Bragg in North Carolina. The Government told them they could go home for Christmas if they returned by New Year’s.

The problem? Airfare.

In steps Southwest Airlines.

Southwest Airlines today announced it will fly more than 170 Texas Army National Guard soldiers from Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
…
Airline president Colleen Barrett says Southwest is happy to be able to grant this Christmas wish for the troops to reunite with their families.

Don says All the best to Colleen Barrett. I second that motion. Thank you Colleen and Southwest Airlines.

Welcome Don Surber Readers!

While you’re here, please have a look around. We have some Christmas Hymns of the Day (I Saw Three Ships, The Holly and The Ivy, O, Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles), Angels We Have Heard On High), Tracking Santa with NORAD, and it’s time once again for 24 hours of a Christmas Story (it’ll be 25 years old next Christmas!).

TBS is doing the annual 24 hours of a Christmas Story starting at 7 central tomorrow (Christmas Eve).

click photo to go to TBS website

Ooh Ooh! There’s a quiz!

Once again it’s time to Track Santa’s progress with the help of NORAD!

They have plenty of games to play.

Click on Logo to go to NORAD’s site.

You can use Google Earth this year to track in 3-D!

Angels We Have Heard On High

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Previous: I Saw Three Ships, The Holly and The Ivy, O, Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)