I don’t have to read John Gibson’s book, “The War on Christmas,” to know that the secularists have been attacking Christmas for many years and want to rob our children of the joyful anticipation they have for the coming of that very happy holiday.

I want only to express my feeling of seeing the wonder of children during the Christmas season. What I’ve always seen in children is that when they think of Christmas, they are filled with visions of Christmas trees, lights, Santa Claus, and presents; mostly of presents.

I know many people who are not Christians but still celebrate Christmas. They decorate their homes and Christmas trees, visit Santa Claus, sing carols, and even read “The Night Before Christmas” to their children.

One of the happiest memories of Christmas my wife and I have is that of our children, wide-eyed and shivering with delight, coming down the stairs to see what Santa has left for them under the Christmas tree. We’ll never forget their excitement at the sight of the presents and how they always checked to see if Santa had finished the milk and cookies they had left for him.

Now our children experience the same pleasure of watching their children on Christmas mornings and, to me, that’s what Christmas is all about: the children. Childhood quickly slips away so we should let our children enjoy their special times as long as they can.

I wish a Merry Christmas to all and I hope the New Year brings everyone health and happiness.

[Additionally,] in my letter to the editor which you published in your paper Dec. 7, 2005, under the title, “Reid, Kerry out of touch with U.S. people,” I was writing about Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) making the statement about the people wanting to learn of the successes in Iraq, not Sen. Harry Reid. I apologize for not giving his full name in my e-mail and can understand your belief that I had just misspelled Sen. Reid’s name.

Ralph Suchomel
Peachtree City, Ga.