Candle light. Christmas carols. Scripture reading. The Task Force 34 chaplains provided two Christmas services at Freedom Chapel for the residents of Joint Base Balad, Iraq, on Dec. 24 and 25.

“It meant a lot to be in a place with a lot of others in the same situation as me,” said SSG Melissa Evans, Headquarters, 834th Aviation Support Battalion Human Resources Noncommissioned Officer. “Being away from home during the holidays is really hard, so to have the services to attend made it a lot easier.”

For some, the services provided a sense of being home for Christmas.

“It made me feel like I was home just a little bit. I know I wasn't with my wife and boys, but I was with a lot of brothers and sister in Christ,” said MAJ David Freberg, TF 34 Headquarters Logistics Projects Officer. “I did get to be with my daughter, which made it more like home.”

On Christmas Eve, the chapel was filled with the glow of tiny candle light.

“The candle light service meant so much to me, as it reminded me of home,” SSG Evans said. “And that just made me want to be in the Christmas spirit.”

“When we lit our little candles, turned the lights down, and sang 'Silent Night' [was my favorite part],” said SPC Amber Zimmerman, TF 34 HQ Human Resources Specialist, “it was beautiful.”

Both Christmas services brought the Soldiers out of the everyday monotony of the combat zone.
“It meant the difference between just another day filled with beige landscapes and cement barriers, and jubilant song,” said MAJ Patricia Baker, TF 34 Logistics Officer. “Beige or jubilant - big difference.”
The Christmas choir that was assembled of TF 34 Soldiers was an appreciated addition to the services.

“I think the most memorable part of the services was listening to the choir,” MAJ Freberg said. “They did a great job of singing the songs and helping me remember Christmas at home and listening to the choirs there.”

The members of the choir had an excited director to help get them into the holiday spirit.

“My job was to be the enthusiastic leader,” said MAJ Baker, choir director. “My goal was to get people to that most intangible place where they forget where they are and instead remember how they feel - like they were a part of something special.”

The choir participants proved to be in the spirit by the end of the services.

“Since it is my tradition to go to church during Christmas, it really got me into the Christmas spirit,” SPC Zimmerman said, “especially singing in the choir.”

For all involved, the Christmas services brought out the reason for the season.

“It was just a reminder that Christmas is more than shopping (which is limited in Iraq) and eating,” said 2LT Tony Lange, TF 34 Logistics Assistant.

Written by SPC Jodi Krause, HSC 834th ASB Public Affairs Representative
26 Dec., 2008