Grissom wishes everyone a Merry Christmas Published Dec. 24, 2014 By Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner 434th ARW Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- 'Tis the season to be jolly, and the men and women of Grissom wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas. While celebrating with family and friends, please take a moment to remember those serving away from their loved ones during this holiday season. Christmas is a holiday with Christian origins that has been celebrated by both religious and non-religious people around the world for the last 2,000 years. The holiday traces its roots to Bethlehem, Israel, between 7 and 2 B.C., when Jesus of Nazareth was born. According to Christian tradition Jesus is the Son of God, born from a virgin girl named Mary and was sent to save the world from sin through his death and subsequent resurrection. On the Christian calendar, Christmas is preceded by the Advent season and begins the Twelve Days of Christmas celebration, also known as Christmastide. In the United States, the holiday is traditionally celebrated with large feasts, gift exchanges, singing of Christmas songs and carols, and other religious activities. Many celebrants also decorate their homes and work areas with lights, wreaths, garland, stockings, mistletoe, holly and decorated coniferous trees known as Christmas trees. Throughout the years, Christmas has been celebrated more and more by non-Christians, resulting in secular traditions being added to the mix. One such tradition is the mythology of Santa Claus, a being who lives at the North Pole and delivers presents made by elves to children around the world on Christmas Eve by sliding down their chimneys. It is said by some that Santa gives presents only to good children and flies around the globe in a sleigh pulled by either eight or nine magical reindeer. Whether celebrants follow traditional Christian practices or secular traditions, a common theme of the holiday is the spirit of giving, with an often heard phrase being "it's better to give than to receive." Grissom is home to Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines of many different faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds. Together, these servicemembers unite to defend the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Grissom is also home to the 434th Air Refueling Wing, the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Airmen from the 434th ARW routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission and U.S. strategic objectives. Stay connected with the 434th ARW on Facebook and Twitter.
