A Veteran of 2 Wars

Today's homework for

"November-Photo a Day

is

"Something you do everyday"

I wear this St. Christopher's medal

The medal pictured above is a Saint Christopher medal, of "Patron Saint of safe travels" fame. My Mom gave me this medal many years ago when she came across it, sometime after my Dad died in 1989, while going through his stuff.

Many of you are familiar with St. Christopher, he's like the rock star of the Saints. You may not have heard of St. Bartholomew, but most people have heard of St. Christopher. This medal pictured above is unique in that, pictured on one side is St. Christopher with the words, "Behold St. Christopher, then go your way in safety."

On the other side is the Blessed Mother, with the words "Mary Our Mother-Protect Our Boys."
What's unique is the fact that the Blessed Mother is also on it. If you try to buy a St. Christopher medal today, Mother Mary will not be on it.

I assumed all along, but never looked into it, that this medal was probably given to my Dad when he was in the service during WWII. A quick Google search backed up my theory, these St. Christopher medals complete with the Blessed Mother on the other side were very common during "The Big One." I guess they figured "the boys" could use all the luck they could get.

My Mom knew nothing of the history, but I like to think my Dad wore this medal as he prepared the airfields on Iwo Jima in 1944. At the very least, he had it with him.

So, fast forward 65 years or so, and I'm wearing St. Christopher as I work in the engine room. My son-in-law to be, has been in Afghanistan at this point for a few months. My daughter, the bride to be at that time, was telling me on the phone she heard from Jim, said he was doing well but without giving details she relayed to me that he was in a "very active" area. She mentioned she was sending him a care package.

Out of the blue I had a thought, that I had to get this St. Christopher medal into his hands. I figured if I could do that, he would be safe. When I got home, I ran this thought past my daughter and she was all for it. We talked about the possibility of loosing this medal in the mail and we came to the conclusion that it was worth the try. If it were to somehow get lost, my Dad would have understood. He would have been glad to hear we tried. So, in the next care package and off to Afghanistan old St. Christopher went. A few weeks later we got word from Jim that St. Christopher had arrived.

The first time I saw Jim after he came home many months later, he walked up to me, thanked me and handed me my St. Christopher medal. This particular St. Christopher medal is now a veteran of 2 wars, separated by 66 years.

With all that being said, it's a bit confusing as to why Pope Paul IV removed St. Christopher from the starting lineup of the Roman Catholic Calender of Saints in 1969. The Church "still approves devotion to him", but they removed his Feast Day.

And you think Obamacare is confusing?