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I'll Be Home For Christmas: The Spirit of Christmas During World War II
America is ready to remember and honor the men and women who courageously served the nation during World War II. To celebrate those brave souls and their families, and the spirit that carried them through our nation's darkest days, the Library of Congress has created a magnificent gift book. Themed around memories of Christmas during the war, I'll Be Home for Christmas is a unique and handsomely packaged collection of poignant stories, correspondence, more than 100 photographs and illustrations, and diary excerpts from those who went off to war and those who kept the home fires burning.
One of the key events that shaped the twentieth century, World War II left an indelible mark on mankind. All too often overlooked in the shadow of official accounts and the sheer volume of documentation of the war are the millions of individual stories and experiences of those who served in the war and of the loved ones who waited for them to come home. Never were the personal sacrifices made both here and abroad more heartfelt than at that special time for family that is Christmas.
Now the Library of Congress has opened its treasure trove of more than 110 million items (maps, photographs, drawings, recordings, rare books, published and unpublished writings, music, and motion pictures) to craft the perfect gift for anyone interested in World War II. With more than 100 beautiful photographs, cartoons, and illustrations, I'll Be Home for Christmas captures in brilliant relief how the worst of times can bring out the best in humankind.
One of the key events that shaped the twentieth century, World War II left an indelible mark on mankind. All too often overlooked in the shadow of official accounts and the sheer volume of documentation of the war are the millions of individual stories and experiences of those who served in the war and of the loved ones who waited for them to come home. Never were the personal sacrifices made both here and abroad more heartfelt than at that special time for family that is Christmas.
Now the Library of Congress has opened its treasure trove of more than 110 million items (maps, photographs, drawings, recordings, rare books, published and unpublished writings, music, and motion pictures) to craft the perfect gift for anyone interested in World War II. With more than 100 beautiful photographs, cartoons, and illustrations, I'll Be Home for Christmas captures in brilliant relief how the worst of times can bring out the best in humankind.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published October 3, 2006
22 people want to read
About the author
Library of Congress
4,601 books75 followersThe Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in four buildings in Washington, D.C., as well as the Packard Campus in Culpeper, Virginia, it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and number of books.
The Library's primary mission is researching inquiries made by members of Congress through the Congressional Research Service. It also serves as the legal repository for copyright protection and copyright registration for the United States Copyright Office.
Ask a Library of Congress Librarian
http://www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/
The Library's primary mission is researching inquiries made by members of Congress through the Congressional Research Service. It also serves as the legal repository for copyright protection and copyright registration for the United States Copyright Office.
Ask a Library of Congress Librarian
http://www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 30, 2014
Absolutely LOVED reading this collection of stories, historical events and pictures, and letters collected from the Library of Congress! The pictures added a personal touch while the stories shared the pieces of history and Christmas on both the homefront and on the field of battle. Reading this at Christmas time made me appreciate all the more the hope that the birth of Christ has given us and I enjoyed seeing the faith of our country during this time of war and hardship and how spirit of Christmas stayed alive for them through it all. It made WWII come alive for me as more than just stories of my grandparents generation, but as people who really lived and dreamed and loved and made it through one of the most difficult periods in our world history. Reading this book made my Christmas special and more meaningful.
“...a few miles away Dietrich Bonhoeffer, after months of trials and threats to his life, was in the hands of the Gestapo awaiting the scaffold which was prepared for him. I cannot imagine him writing one of his letters from prison complaining that this was no time for Christmas celebrations. His letters breathed a total confidence in his Savior.
The Gospel is no less true when circumstances are most terrible. If we soak ourselves in this truth we shall never find ourselves making excuses...May Christmas joy be real and radiant for us all – no matter what our circumstances.”
I admit to shedding more than a few tears reading these poignant stories. My favorite story was of a young man (wounded 3 times during the coarse of the war) traveling home. Discouraged by the lack of family awaiting him at home because of his parents divorce and his girlfriend leaving him for someone else, and the expectation of not arriving until the day after Christmas, he tried to sleep. Yet during that long train ride an old woman and her young grandson climbed onboard as the train made an unexpected stop. As they quietly walked through the aisles of sleeping soldiers and passengers they came to a stop before this young man and handed him a dollar. Such a simple Christmas gift. The train moved on but made another stop in Chicago where hundreds of people awaited to welcome the soldiers by singing carols and holding lit candles, and a surprise feast of a tray of Christmas dinner for all the passengers with a small gift on it. Years later, as he told this story to his family at Christmastime, his young niece quietly spoke up, “'I know who the Little boy on the train was, and why he picked you. The little boy was God, and he chose you because you were very, very sad and dissapointed with everyone and everything. He wanted to make you happy again and welcome you home – and he did.' And then I knew a Christmas miracle had happened to me when I needed it most, during the war, on that train and in chicago.”
I would HIGHLY recommend this book {I've already told many friends about it!} for anyone studying WWII or who might be looking for something inspiring to read during the Christmas season. I know it inspired me greatly, and it's a book I think will be read over and over in my house.
“...a few miles away Dietrich Bonhoeffer, after months of trials and threats to his life, was in the hands of the Gestapo awaiting the scaffold which was prepared for him. I cannot imagine him writing one of his letters from prison complaining that this was no time for Christmas celebrations. His letters breathed a total confidence in his Savior.
The Gospel is no less true when circumstances are most terrible. If we soak ourselves in this truth we shall never find ourselves making excuses...May Christmas joy be real and radiant for us all – no matter what our circumstances.”
I admit to shedding more than a few tears reading these poignant stories. My favorite story was of a young man (wounded 3 times during the coarse of the war) traveling home. Discouraged by the lack of family awaiting him at home because of his parents divorce and his girlfriend leaving him for someone else, and the expectation of not arriving until the day after Christmas, he tried to sleep. Yet during that long train ride an old woman and her young grandson climbed onboard as the train made an unexpected stop. As they quietly walked through the aisles of sleeping soldiers and passengers they came to a stop before this young man and handed him a dollar. Such a simple Christmas gift. The train moved on but made another stop in Chicago where hundreds of people awaited to welcome the soldiers by singing carols and holding lit candles, and a surprise feast of a tray of Christmas dinner for all the passengers with a small gift on it. Years later, as he told this story to his family at Christmastime, his young niece quietly spoke up, “'I know who the Little boy on the train was, and why he picked you. The little boy was God, and he chose you because you were very, very sad and dissapointed with everyone and everything. He wanted to make you happy again and welcome you home – and he did.' And then I knew a Christmas miracle had happened to me when I needed it most, during the war, on that train and in chicago.”
I would HIGHLY recommend this book {I've already told many friends about it!} for anyone studying WWII or who might be looking for something inspiring to read during the Christmas season. I know it inspired me greatly, and it's a book I think will be read over and over in my house.
January 2, 2009
Nice vignettes about Christmas during the war. It was nice, but not spectacular.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews