No matter what your religion, at this time of year, a person
wants to with family. “There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays”, goes one
popular seasonal tune.
There are some people who just can’t be home for the
holidays, though. One Christmas Eve, I
was able to stop by the local Legion Club for a cup of coffee before heading
over to the courthouse. By good fortune,
I sat across the table from one of the Greatest Generation: Roy Kuhlman had flown a B-24 over Europe in World War Two.
I asked Roy
if he’d ever been away from home over the holidays. He told me he’d actually been a prisoner of
war, after his bomber had been shot down in 1944.
Roy
passed away this year. I think about
him, and all those who have served in the armed forces of this country, who
have missed holidays, birthdays and more in service of our country.
I also have taken calls from law enforcement over the
holidays. They, too, are called away
from their families on these important holidays. They are often busy on those days, too. I am told by folks in the liquor business
that Christmas Eve has been the biggest day for sale of alcohol through the
whole year. This may result in driving
under the influence, or alcohol-facilitated domestic abuse charges. We all hope for a quiet night for our public
servants, but often, it is a busy night, away from their families.
Activity in court is normally lower this week. The cases we do have, however, are often
difficult and often sad. Holiday parenting time disputes can arise at the 11th
hour. (Starting in October, I have a
policy to ask folks in court on any
child custody matter if they have the holidays worked out. If not, we get it done right then. The last-minute motions are just too hard on
the parties, not to mention the children.
They also put a lot of pressure on a judge to make a snap decision on a
most-important issue.)
As most of us gather with family and friends this holiday,
let’s remember those who cannot be home for the holidays, because they are
serving us and keeping us safe.
Merry Christmas.
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Next week:
Resolutions
