I am a 75 year old retired Marine, living in Florida.. wherein I rejoice each morning in seeing the sun come bursting up out of the Atlantic.. and knowing that my arthritic joints will enjoy another warm, and sunny day ahead.

However, at this Christmas time of the year, my thoughts are preoccupied with the memories of growing up in a little town in New England, named Swansea. The memories are overwhelming in terms of happy thoughts about people, places and events that took place in and around that Yuletide time of the year. I would like to share these memories with you.

I am looking forward to Christmas present ..but I can’t help thinking about my Christmas’ past.

Like Christmas Eve.. when my father, mother, brother and I went up onto the Christ Church parapet in Swansea Village …at 11:30 and for about 30 minutes, played Christmas Carol with our trumpets… before the midnight Christmas service…

I remember one night when it was gently snowing and it was full moon… the sounds of the trumpets echoed through out Swansea Village .. and when we stopped playing, I remember the stillness of the night…

I miss singing Christmas Carols with all the other teenage kids in Swansea Village..and being invited into the Christmas decorated houses for hot chocolate…

I miss the sound of crunching snow under each step ..or listening to someone shoveling snow and the scraping sound of the shovel…

I miss the sound of snow sliding off the roof.. or falling from the branches of the many large elm trees…

I miss hearing the sound of the snow plow passing by..

I miss hearing the sound of ice cracking on the Swansea Dam .. and gathering around the bonfires we built on the thick ice .. and the roasting of marshmallows..

I miss lacing up the white figure skates of my girl friend .. I miss holding hands with her as we skated along … and the moment of ecstasy when our cold noses touched for an instance. . I miss trying to impress her with my skating ability..

I miss seeing the breath escaping from my mouth .. when playing hockey against the boys from Gardner’s Neck..

I miss wearing my new red and black Mackinaw and my L.L. Bean snow boots.

I miss the smell, in the night air, of the smoke from a burning fireplace ..or the sound of an Eastern Mass. bus with the clanging of a broken snow chain as it passes by.

I miss the sound of the Christ Church bell ringing before the midnight service.. I miss the lighting of Christmas candles by the congregation. ...I miss the singing of the Christmas Carols that we all knew by heart..

I miss the sound of Miss Eddy playing the church organ..and the comforting voice of Reverend Smith as he leads us in prayer...

I miss being one of the Three Wise Men in the Sunday School Christmas Pageant at Christ Church..and I miss all the fun we had preparing for it..

I miss the family trip to the Taunton Green and driving around the square twice to “ooh and aah” at the Christmas decorations.

I miss the smell of a real Christmas tree ..one that we cut down on my grandfather’s property near the Watuppa Pond. I miss the frustration of finding the one bulb that prevents a string of lights from working.. I miss the sewing of popcorn strings for tree decorations ..and I miss the Christmas lights that bubbled.. I miss being asked to put the Angel on the top of the tree..

I miss waking up my mother and father before daylight and urging them to let my brother and me go downstairs to see what Santa had brought us..and to see if he ate the cookies we left for him…

I miss all the excitement of first searching through the stockings that were hung on the fireplace…all the while looking at the many Christmas presents under the tree..

I miss the afternoon turkey Christmas dinner at Grandma’s house and watching my Grandfather carve the turkey and give the blessing...

Most of all .. I miss those who are no longer able to share the joys of Christmas with me.. but who instilled within me .. the spirit of Christmas giving .. and who never let me forget the religious meaning of Christmas day and the Christmas season..

I miss them for letting me have and enjoy these cherished Christmas memories.

And lastly, to all my friends who may read this.. I miss you ..God Bless and Merry Christmas…

Frank C. Chace
Colonel US Marine Corps (Ret)
2800 North Flagler Dr
West Palm Beach Florida, 33407