“Be
joyful always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances." ~ 1
Thess. 5:16-18
The country wasn’t in much of a
Christmas spirit in 1941. Japan's
surprise attack on Pearl Harbor just weeks earlier had thrust America into a
world in conflict. While Americans
attempted to go about celebrating as usual, the reality of the just-declared
war was on everybody’s mind.
Christmas lights strung along Oahu’s main shopping districts
had all been torn down or turned off. New bikes, wagons and dolls that would
have been Christmas presents were still sitting on docks in San Francisco,
shoved aside as the weapons and supplies of war were readied for the island.
For Hawaiians, it was a time of sadness and fear. More than 2,500 young men had been buried
after the attack. Local gardens gave up
their red poinsettias and hibiscus for small bouquets on each grave.
Even as they grieved, civilians feared another invasion by
Japan; indeed, enemy submarines were sporadically shelling island ports and
harbors. Within a month of the attack, 30,000
women and children left Hawaii, worrying about their safety.
At Pearl Harbor, a massive salvage operation was under way. Damaged ships with functioning weapons were
stripped or repaired. Dry docks ran
around the clock. In less than a week,
the Army extended its runway to accommodate the largest bombers of the day to
land.
The military's speed was not limited to construction and
repair; it also moved quickly to control Hawaii's civilian population, fearful
that Americans of Japanese ancestry would help the enemy. Nearly 1,500 local Japanese were eventually
interned.
Three men would help Americans rekindle their Christmas
spirit . . . of joy and peace and God.
First, Prime Minister Churchill and President Roosevelt gave
a joint press conference on Christmas Eve from the Oval Office before the
annual lighting of the National Christmas tree.
The 1941 tree would be the only one ever inside the White House grounds.
FDR reminded the radio audience,
“Our strongest weapon against this war is
the conviction of the dignity and brotherhood which Christmas signifies. We set our faith in human love and in God’s
care for us all.”
In his address, Winston Churchill called on listeners to “Let the children have their night of fun
and laughter. Let the gifts of Father
Christmas delight their play. Let us grownups share to the full in their
unstinted pleasure, before we turn again to the stern tasks and formidable year
that lie before us.”
Third, “White Christmas," written by the formidable
composer and lyricist Irving Berlin premiered Christmas Day on Bing Crosby's
weekly NBC radio program, The Kraft Music Hall. Crosby’s rendition went on to
become one of the most commercially successful singles of all time, and a
bedrock standard in the American songbook.
Lord of Peace, “we need [Your] guidance; that
[our] people may be humble in spirit but strong in conviction; steadfast to
endure sacrifice, and brave to achieve a victory of liberty and peace.” ~ FDR
December 24, 1941
