In the early 1900s, when the founder of the Salvation Army, William Booth, wanted to send an inspirational Christmas message to each of his workers around the world to convey what he saw as the essential message of Christmas and the core mission of Christians.

The problem was that Western Union charged by the word and Booth was the thrifty leader of a ministry supported by the donation of coins tossed in a red kettle. Finally, he sent out a one word message: “Others.”

It was a message that Booth’s workers learned well. When The Empress of Ireland sank after being struck by another ship on the St. Lawrence River in 1914, 109 Salvation Army officers on board were drowned. None of them was wearing a life-jacket. Survivors told how the Salvationists, seeing other passengers without lifejackets, removed their own and strapped them upon those “others”.

Their sacrifice of life continues to our modern times. Col. Bo Brekke, the Norwegian-born Salvation Army leader for Pakistan, was murdered with two gunshots to the head on September 27, 2007.

The U.S. military is also filled with those who have learned the lesson of “Others”. Lt. Walter Bryan Jackson received the Distinguished Service Cross for saving another soldier’s life in Iraq even though he was himself wounded and under fire from the enemy.

In an interview with The Washington Post, Lt. Jackson, in a quiet way, expressed his frustration with the American people’s tepid response to battles being fought overseas in the war against terrorism.

“It doesn’t affect society at large in the slightest. Life just goes on, and a lot of people … are more concerned about the price of gas than about soldiers fighting and dying.”

He does wish more Americans would express their appreciation for the military volunteers who live and die for others. “We don’t ask for much,” he said.
It doesn’t take much for us to give them that appreciation.

It used to be possible for us to send letters and packages marked for delivery to “Any Service Member.” But because of heightened security, we can’t do that anymore. The USO now has another program, Operation USO Care Package that lets us sponsor a care package for $25 and send a personal message of support and thanks to a service member. The care packages contain prepaid international phone cards, snacks, sunscreen, toiletries, compact discs and other items most frequently requested by service men and women.

When the Christmas spirit hits us, we want to go everywhere and help everyone, but that just isn’t possible for us to do individually. We can, however, donate to the work of the Salvation Army’s 1.1 million officers and senior soldiers around the world. With our financial gifts and cards to the USO we can also encourage the 1,431,403 members of our Guard, Reserve, and active duty military.

They are giving their time, effort, and occasionally their lives, in service to “Others”. As Lt. Jackson said, they don’t ask for much. The least we can do is to say “Thank you” and let them know someone back home cares and appreciates their sacrifices.

Mike Sharman, a resident of Foothills of Faith Farm in Madison County, Virginia, has served as an attorney and guardian for children for more than two decades. Mike writes a weekly editorial column published by the Culpeper Star-Exponent. You may contact him at [email protected]