Our Troops’ Incredible Christmas Gift to the Rest of America

With just hours remaining at this point, malls are bustling with hustling shoppers preparing for Christmas on Monday. Many of us are looking forward to being with friends and family, enjoying scrumptious meals, opening treasures beneath the tree, attending church, and thanking God for the gift of His Son — and much more.

Not all of us are so fortunate to be in the embrace of loved ones, however. Some of our bravest and most dedicated Americans will be away from their families and the comforts of home this Christmas. It’s due to the selfless sacrifice of this group of Americans that we’re all afforded the opportunity to freely enjoy the wonders a Christmas morning brings.

Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday delivered a special message to some members of that group at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan. Traveling under heavy guard, Pence made the surprise visit in part to deliver a Christmas message to some of the more than 11,000 U.S. troops who are serving our country in Afghanistan, as noted in a segment Friday night on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle.”

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Not only did Pence deliver his own message of thanks, but he also brought the troops an appreciative, heartfelt greeting from their commander-in-chief.

“I asked the president if he had a message for our troops here in Afghanistan,” Pence said as he stood in front of an American flag backdrop. “And he looked at me without hesitation from behind the resolute desk and said, ‘Tell ’em I love ’em.'”

The vice president went on to say what’s in the hearts of many Americans — as we consider the sacrifices made by the men and women who defend our country as well as their families.

“On behalf of your commander-in-chief and all of the American people that pay a debt of honor and respect and gratitude to each and every one of you for your service and your sacrifice, give yourselves a round of applause.”

Related: ‘Merry Christmas’ Trumps ‘Happy Holidays’

Pence also noted our troops are the “world’s greatest force for good.”

And indeed they are.

Thanks to our brave men and women of the military, both stateside and overseas, we are free to openly, proudly, and joyously celebrate Jesus’ birth. For that, we are forever grateful.

Michele Blood is a freelance writer based in Flemington, New Jersey.