Christmas message

I am a huge fan of songwriters. About 15 years ago my wife received a box of records from her cousin. Included was a sleeve from an album by Billy Joe Shaver, one of my favorite songwriters. Imagine my disappointment when I realized there was no album inside. I could however, feel something.

I reached in and pulled out a record sleeve holding a small record about 8 inches in diameter. The outside had a Pepsi logo and on it was written “A message from your soldier.” On the other side was an address to a Washington, D.C., post office box, and the return address was a military post in Long Island, N.Y. The address included the GI’s service number. My wife and I knew we had to get this to the addressee before Christmas, and we only had about three weeks.

We contacted Richard Beard of this paper to see if he could help. In the meantime we took the record to our local radio station, KWYN, and they were able to clean up the sound and transfer the record to a CD. In the meantime Mr. Beard was able to contact Congressman Berry, who contacted the Pentagon. Believe it or not, we were able to find the current address of the addressee. Shortly before Christmas we mailed the CD in a CD player to the GI’s widow. All she had to do was press play. She and her daughter had never heard the recording.

That year had been tough for my wife and me. I had been laid off. My health was failing. But God gave us a way to give that we never expected.

P.S. The husband was stationed at a missile battery on Long Island and his fiancée was working in Washington, D.C. The husband committed suicide in the 1960s, which is why I didn’t mention their name. I am quite sure the widow is dead as we haven’t received any Christmas cards in a few years.

Merry Christmas.

CHUCK JONES

Wynne