12-25-2012, 03:29 PM | #1 |
Drives: Camaros................ Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Seven Fields, PA (Pittsburgh)
Posts: 4,523
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Merry Christmas to my Camaro5 Comrades...
Merry Christmas, Camaro Comrades, Firebird Friends, and Corvette Cousins.....
As we gather with friends and family, we celebrate this Holiday Season..... Whether you are a believer or a non-believer, I'd like to share something with you that's appropriate for today..... As Church Bells in our tiny town of Mars started to toll last evening announcing Christmas Eve Services, I looked into Mom Settlemire's back yard - at a bell that's been in our family for nearly a century.....it once sat atop a Baltimore and Ohio Steam Engine -- piloted by my Great Grandfather, Thomas G. Henry. The bell has been rung for many, many years by family members on Holidays such as Christmas - The 4th of July - and New Years. As I looked at it -- it brought back many very happy memories......and yet it left me wondering how we make sense of what's happening in our world these days. Volunteer Firemen gunned down in Webster, NY - and tiny children and teachers taken from us in Newtown. ....and I thought of the Christmas Song "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" We've all heard the song -- be it on a radio or walking thru a shopping mall -- or perhaps during a church service. The words were a poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow... -- and I wondered what inspired the author to write the words...... It seems that Mr. Longfellow was deeply disturbed to find that, during the American Civil War, his son joined the Union Army without his father's blessing. According to letters found years later, Charles Appleton Longfellow wrote to his father: "I have tried hard to resist the temptation of going without your leave but I cannot any longer," he wrote. "I feel it to be my first duty to do what I can for my country and I would willingly lay down my life for it if it would be of any good". Soon thereafter, he was critically injured in the Battle of New Hope Church. This news was received by Mr, Longfellow just as he'd buried his wife who had died in a fire. I can only imagine how bleak the world around him looked.....and yet he was inspired to write the poem "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." And so I ask the believer and the non-believer alike to read the words - and know that we live in a most amazing time. Yes, bad things happen - but we still enjoy amazing freedom - freedom won by millions - including a band of men who risked all on Christmas night 236 years ago -- Bleak as times may seem, there is always hope. We come together as family and as friends not only to celebrate the season, but to 'hope' and know that the future remains bright. My wish to each of you is that you have a most Happy Holiday Season - a Merry Christmas - and may 2013 bring you all that is good. God Bless us one and all.......... * * * * * * * * * * * I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old, familiar carols play, and mild and sweet The words repeat Of peace on earth, good-will to men! And thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along The unbroken song Of peace on earth, good-will to men! And thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along The unbroken son Of peace on earth, good-will to men! Till ringing, singing on its way, The world revolved from night to day, A voice, a chime, A chant sublime Of peace on earth, good-will to men! Then from each black, accursed mouth The cannon thundered in the South, And with the sound The carols drowned Of peace on earth, good-will to men! It was as if an earthquake rent The hearth-stones of a continent, And made forlorn The households born Of peace on earth, good-will to men! And in despair I bowed my head; "There is no peace on earth," I said; "For hate is strong, And mocks the son, Of peace on earth, good-will to men!" Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men."
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Last edited by fbodfather; 12-25-2012 at 06:41 PM. |
12-25-2012, 03:35 PM | #2 |
Drives: 2010 2LT/RS Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Buffalo, NY
Posts: 74
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Amen Brother!
God Bless us all.....
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2010 Camaro | 2LT | RS | Silver Ice Metallic | Cyber Gray Rally Stripes | MRT2.0 with Helmholz Pipes | Vararam CAI |
12-25-2012, 03:37 PM | #3 |
Drives: 2012 Camaro SS Convertible (LS3) Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: PC Florida USA
Posts: 46
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Merry Christmas, Happy New Year to you from a fellow Camaro/Corvette fan.
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12-25-2012, 03:44 PM | #4 |
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Merry Christmas fbodfather
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Jannetty Racing JRE Street Package
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12-25-2012, 03:58 PM | #5 |
Montani Semper Liberi
Drives: 2011 Black 2SS/RS w/ IOM stripes Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Masontown, WV
Posts: 4,841
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merry christmas Fbodfather
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Stainless Works 1 7/8 Long Tude Headers, Stainless Works High Flow Cats, Stainless Works Retro Chambered Catback, Z/28 Air Intake, RDP Tuned, FR41 Chrome Rims, 1100W stereo, 35% Tint |
12-25-2012, 04:02 PM | #6 |
Drives: 2017 Corvette Grand Sport Join Date: May 2010
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 10,870
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Merry Christmas
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12-25-2012, 04:08 PM | #7 |
Drives: 2010 ABM 2SS/RS A6 and 2018 2500 Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: FLORIDA
Posts: 2,069
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Amen to that.
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BLUETOOTH-SS
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12-25-2012, 04:10 PM | #8 |
COTW 12/3/12
Drives: 2012 Ashen Gray ZL1 Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Glen Carbon, IL
Posts: 3,279
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Merry Christmas!
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12-25-2012, 04:23 PM | #9 |
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Fbod....that was very cool. Pic of the your family bell is greatness. My daughter had a good x-mas, and we got lucky and got some snow in Dallas. Great weekend, parents drove up from San Antonio to visit. Good day!
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Last edited by DFWZ28; 12-25-2012 at 04:53 PM. |
12-25-2012, 04:24 PM | #10 |
Drives: 2011 SS-RS Join Date: May 2011
Location: FLORIDA
Posts: 11,449
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Merry Christmas Fbodfather, and to all a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year !!! God Bless and thanks..
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12-25-2012, 04:24 PM | #11 |
NEcamaro5
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merry christmas Scotty
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12-25-2012, 04:36 PM | #12 |
Drives: 2013 CRT 2SS/1LE; 2016 Colorado Z71 Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Edison, NJ
Posts: 648
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Amen. Merry Christmas to all!
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12-25-2012, 04:40 PM | #13 |
ROAD COURSE JUNKIE
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Merry Xmas
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12-25-2012, 05:45 PM | #14 |
Drives: 2012 45th Edition 2LT RS,2005 Tahoe Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Henderson Nevada
Posts: 1,200
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Merry Christmas fbodfather. Ring the bell
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