It's Still True

[Annie]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ideas_opinions/story/377320p-320545c.html

From a dad in harm's way,
one Christmas long ago

By DICK CORNISH

Longtime Daily News readers will remember Dick Cornish, whose popular hunting-and-fishing column ran from 1954 until his death in 1961. The Cornish family recently rediscovered this lovely World War II letter he wrote from the South Pacific to his then-infant daughter Elizabeth, and we think the faraway sailor's sentiments resonate just as much this Christmas as they did then.

USS RANDOLPH

24 December 1944

My dear little daughter:

This is Christmas Eve. This is the night when all the daddies all over the world should be home with their little girls and little boys. Your daddy wants so much to be at home with you tonight. He's lonesome for you and Mommy, and he hopes you are for him, every night. But more tonight than any other.

Where you are, darling, it is already Christmas Day. Soon it will be Christmas here too, in just a few hours. I remember so many Christmases. I like best to remember the Christmases when I was a little child, like you; when my Daddy took me in his arms and kissed me and kissed Mommy and wished us all a merry merry Christmas. I would be so excited Christmas Eve I couldn't sleep, thinking about Santa Claus. I remember Christmas when I was a bigger boy, when all my uncles and aunts and cousins and friends would come and visit. All the Christmases were wonderful.

Yes, lots of Christmases. But this one is the best because you're here this Christmas. Just your presence in the world makes it so, just as the coming of another baby so long ago made happiness for us all.

Of course, I would be happier if I were with you and Mommy, instead of out on a big ship, sailing a big ocean, doing a very little part in a big war that no good people ever wanted. Only bad people wanted the war, bad people who had forgotten or never knew the meaning of Christmas. That's one of the reasons why we're apart, so that good people can keep Christmas and so many things you'll soon learn about, like loving your neighbor instead of hating him and about how it is more blessed to give than receive. Our enemies never knew that. They wanted only to take things away from the homes and families tonight.

Some Daddies will never come back from this war. They will have given the greatest gift anyone can give. If your Daddy has to stay away forever, too, you must know that it was to help keep Christmas and everything in the way of life that Christmas symbolizes for you and Mommy and all other good people at home and everywhere.

He is sure, though, that he will come back, if not for next Christmas then the one after that. And then he'll stay home and we'll have such wonderful times together that every day will seem like Christmas.

Good night, darling. God bless you and Mommy and a Merry Christmas to you both.

Love, Daddy