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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 24, 2016)
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2016 A CENTURY AGO B Y T OM E MERY Special to Siuslaw News he First World War shocked the world with its brutality and casual- ties. But for a brief time at Christmas 1914, enemies became warm friends. Over a century ago this month, men of opposing armies called a truce during the first Christmas of a war that has become the stuff of legend. While many of the stories of the cease-fire have been embel- lished with time, the truce stands in contrast to the horrific warfare that ravaged Europe at that time. T 5 A A Christmas truce “In some cases, the men posed for photographs wearing each other’s hats,” said Doran Cart, senior curator of the National World War I Museum in Kansas City. “They exchanged cigars and ciga- rettes, and drank German schnapps and British rum to celebrate the occasion.” Accounts of the truce vary widely, and it is apparent that the truce was celebrated with different intensity, and with dif- ferent length, at various spots along the lines. Much of the truce occurred between Ypres, KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS Sponsored by St. Mary Our Lady of the Dunes Knights of Columbus Assembly 3656 Florence, Oregon Belgium, and Neuve- Chappelle, France, and origi- nated when a truce was called to bury the dead between the lines in “no-man’s land.” “That’s how it started,” said Cart. “It’s certainly not unusual for both sides to request a cease-fire to take care of the dead. It kind of grew from there.” Some report that German soldiers cheerily called “come over here” to their British counterparts, while others recall Germans placing small Christmas trees on top of their entrenchments on a frosty Christmas Eve. One British soldier compared the lit trees to “the footlights of a theater.” Multiple accounts note that German troops began singing carols, including Stille Nacht, commonly known as “Silent Night.” While some Allied troops suspected a trap, many others applauded the music and responded with songs of their own. One awestruck British fighter wrote that “I shall never forget it. It was one of the high- lights of my life.” As more trees and candles appeared on the parapets, British soldiers cheered mighti- ly, including one who recalled that “I stayed awake the entire night. And it was a wonderful Join Us In Worship 4 lines, approx 15 words, $10 a week 4 week Minimum Deadline 3 p.m. Mondays. night.” A young Bavarian officer was one of many who shouted that a Christmas truce should be made, and that both sides should leave their trenches to approach the other. He recalled that the British eventually agreed, and that “a man came out of their trenches and I on my side did the same … we shook hands a bit cau- tiously.” They were joined by others, and the next day was filled with intermittent visits in no- man’s land, where men found their enemies to be quite engaging. “Many of the Germans who participated in this were Saxons and Bavarians, and a lot of them had lived or worked in England before the war,” remarked Cart. “There are examples of soldiers asking about others they knew in both countries.” Amid good-natured ribbing about the other side’s war efforts, men stood in small groups, chatting and joking while exchanging goods. Cart says that, unlike popular leg- end, there were no actual Christmas gifts to each other. “They didn’t give any real presents to each other,” he said. “They traded goods they had, To be included in this directory contact the Siuslaw News at 997-3441, or drop off information at 148 Maple St., Old Town, Florence. but nothing of any military value. Each side was happy to get what the other had.” Several myths have grown from what many British soldiers called “the wonderful day.” An example is that one or more soccer games were played along the lines, a recol- lection that has been chal- lenged in recent years. “There may have been some kicking around of a ball, but I just can’t see any way that a full-fledged soccer game could have been played in no-man’s land,” commented Cart. “There would have been so much debris in that area, which had been a furrowed farm field. I don’t know that there would have been enough space of suitable ground to actually play a real game.” While the British and Germans are commonly associ- ated with the Christmas truce, some French and Belgian sol- diers also took part. However, many scholars believe those armies were in little mood to celebrate with the Germans, who had overrun their coun- tries earlier that year and were accused of various atrocities. In some areas, the truce did not end on Christmas Day. Pockets of opposing soldiers extended it into Dec. 26, and in isolated cases, for a week or more. Commanding officers on both sides threatened reprisal for the men involved in the agreement, though there is no J OIN U S I N W ORSHIP WATCH! 3 ANGELS BROADCASTING NETWORK (3ABN) TV UHF Channel 48. 24 hour Christian TV highlights Bible studies of prophecy, inspirational music, health lectures, healthy cooking and more. evi- dence of any actual pun- ishments. Half-hearted attempts were made to repeat the truce at Christmas in subsequent years, but nothing like what happened that first year. The 1914 truce became a sensation in the English press, and countless British soldiers recounted the events of the truce in letters to home and the papers. The holiday cease-fire has since grown into a global leg- end, its story captured in books and TV depictions. “A mythology has arisen from the truce,” said Cart. “There’s no doubt that a truce actually happened, because many, many men on both sides wrote and spoke of it later. But it’s become much larger than it probably was.” Ceremonial recreations of the Christmas truce have been held periodically over the years at the site, including in 1999. In 2014, diplomats of various nations joined to commemorate the centennial of the truce, a remarkable event that one British soldier wrote “made the bitterest of foes friends,” if only for a little while. —Tom Emery is a freelance writer and historical researcher from Carlinville, Ill. F LORENCE F LASHBACK FLORENCE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP N.W. Corner of Heceta Beach Road & Hwy. 101 Every Sunday at 10 a.m. All are welcome. (541) 997-2840 BY B OB J ACKSON BAY BERRY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP SINGSPIRATION You are invited to come and sing your favorite old time gospel hymns Every Friday night at 7pm • Non-denominational Bay Berry Square; 101 at Sutton Lake Dr. /milepost 185 N. For more information , please call 541-997-2681 CHRISTIAN SCIENCE GROUP “God Is Life” Meeting Thursday at 3pm 575-313-3640 THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Located at Munsel Lake Road and North Fork Road Worship Services 10:00 AM Sunday All are welcome! 541-997-7268 COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH 4590 Hwy. 101, Across from Fred Meyer –- 997-7418 Sunday School, 9:30a.m. – Worship, 10:45 Wed. Prayer - 6:00 p.m. –Wed. Ministries 1-8 Grade 7 p.m. CROSS ROAD ASSEMBLY OF GOD Corner of 10th & Maple –- 997-3533 Bible Study at 9:00 A.M. Services: Worship, 10:30 A.M. fl orencecrossroad.org • offi ce@fl orencecrossroad.org FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - SBC 1935 25th St. – 997-7660 • Pastor, Dr. Marvin Owen Series “People of the Bible.” on Wednesdays 6 p.m. A friendly place to worship, vacationers welcome. Sun.; 11am & 6pm, Sunday school 9:45am. FLORENCE CHRISTIAN CHURCH 2nd & Ivy – 997-2961 –Non-Denominational Worship Service: 9:00 am & 10:30 am FLORENCE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH FOURSQUARE CHURCH 1624 Highway 101 (next to A&W) –- 997-6337 Pastor George Pagel – Something for the entire family. Sun. Services: 10:45 a.m., Wed. Bible Study 7 p.m. Website:fl orence4square.com FLORENCE VINEYARD (GOD’S POWER HOUSE) 2610 Kingwood, Florence • 541-268-2025 Sunday Worship @ 10:00 a.m., experience the Power of the Holy Spirit Pastors: George & Beverly Sisemore Intercessory Prayer & Worship, Thursday night @ 5:00 pm fl orencevineyardchurch.com NEW LIFE CHURCH-UPC 1424 15th Street •541-991-9398 Sunday Services: 10am and 6pm Tues. Bible Study 7:00pm NEW LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH, E.L.C.A. 21st & Spruce Street – 997-8113 Adult Forum 9 a.m. – Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Worship services; Sun. 10:30am & Wed. 6pm. Pastor Lori Blake www.lutheranchurchfl orence.com Traditional Worship Service 10:00 a.m. , Reverend Greg Wood Sunday School and Nursery – Organ and Choir All Welcome. Come as you are. 3996 N Hwy 101 997-7136 RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS) Pre-Denominational (Romans 16:16) 1833 Tamarack Street (2 blocks east of Hwy. 101 on 18th St.) Bible Study: Sunday 10 a.m.; Worship: Sunday 11 a.m. www.churchofchristfl orence.org FLORENCE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE 12th and Nopal –997-9020 Worship Service 10:30 a.m. 10 am Wed., Women’s Bible Study Saturdays, Mens’ Breakfast @ 8 a.m. Online Worship Service@ www.fl orencenaz.com FLORENCE EVANGELICAL CHURCH 1318 Rhododendron Dr. –- 997-2523 – Worship at 11:00 AM –- Sunday School at 9:30 AM – Variety of Sunday evening activities - 5 PM Wed. Bible & Children classes at 6:00 PM Call for details. FLORENCE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST 4445 Hwy 101 (South of Fred Meyer) – 997-3951 Worship on Saturday 10:30 A.M. Adult/Children’s Sabbath School 9:15 A.M. C ontrary to adult belief, there really is a Santa Claus ... er, Sandy Claws. He scuttles about the Oregon beaches on Christmas Day bring- ing good cheer and holiday greetings to well-behaved starfish and hermit crabs. Anyone visiting the beach Christmas morning is sure to catch a glimpse of him — just watch where you step! A LICE B RAUER C HRISTIAN P RESCHOOL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE SIUSLAW Middle School and High School youth groups meet on Wednesday. FLORENCE CHURCH OF CHRIST O RIGINALLY P UBLISHED D EC . 24, 1975 T HE S IUSLAW N EWS , V OL . 85, N O . 52 1st Sunday of each month worship at 10:30 am 2nd-5th Sundays worship at 9am and 10:30am Every Sunday Adult Sunday School at 9am Children and Youth Sunday School at 10:45 AM 2nd & Kingwood • (541) 997-6025 “War is still not the answer.” FCNL We worship in homes at 11am Sundays Call 997-4237 or 902-9511 for locations. RESURRECTION LUTHERAN CHURCH, L.C.M.S. Every Sun., Bible Class 9 a.m., Worship Service 10 a.m. 85294 Hwy. 101 S. – 997-8038 DVD of Weekly worship service available. Pastor Randy Benscoter ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 2135 19th St. –- 997-6600 8:30am, Tuesdays, Morning Prayer Sunday Services: 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. - Wed, 11 a.m. Everyone Welcome – Come walk our Labyrinth. MERRY CHRISTMAS! Wishing You a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Our Family to Yours! Meggan Haslett, Director abchristianprek@gmail. com 541-999-6026 Let me Showcase your property. SAINT MARY, OUR LADY OF THE DUNES CATHOLIC CHURCH Masses: Sat. 5:30 p.m., Sun. 11:00 a.m. 1.5 miles south of river on Hwy 101 – 997-2312 Richard Beaudro Principal Broker 541 991-6677 Jensen Ln #613 – Over an acre waiting for your home plans. Waterfront and views of the Siltcoos Lake in the sought after South Lakes area. Level and gentle slope, South facing, secluded, and wooded. $269,000. #2204-16209479 1749 Highway 101 • 541-997-1200
