Well, the 2025 Army/Navy game is in the history book; Navy 17, Army 16, and Navy retains the Commander in Chief trophy. This game was classic A/N, Navy came in with a 9-2 record and Army with a 6-5, and with those records, it should have been Navy all the way ... not so. Army came to win and they almost did. They played a great game, and while my Navy shipmates might not agree, I think Armyactually out played Navy. But, it is the final score that counts.

But, today, they are back at the Academies. For the seniors, they are getting ready for their final semester and then, on graduation day, they take the following oath “I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation of purpose or evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.”

Both teams do have one more game to play, however. Navy plays Cincinnati in the Liberty Bowl on Jan. 2 and Army plays UConn in the Fenway Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 27. Today I say, “GO NAVY, beat Cincinnati! GO ARMY beat UCONN!” 

As we are approaching Christmas, a few fun facts. On Dec. 18, 1818, "Silent Night" was first sung in Oberndorf, Austria, accompanied by a guitar because the church organ was broken. On Dec. 22, 1843, the 1st commercial Christmas card was sold in England. And on Dec. 23, 1943, the classic story “A Christmas Carol” was published by Charles Dickens shaping modern Christmas themes of generosity, redemption, and caring for the poor.  

Then, on Dec. 24, 1914, The Christmas Truce of World War I occurred when enemy soldiers laid down their weapons, sang carols, exchanged gifts, and even played soccer in “No Main’s Land, one of history’s most human moments.  

Other non-Christmas events also happened during this time.  Did you know it was Mrs Karl Benz, Bertha, that provided the viability of car travel by “stealing” her husband’s car and taking a long road trip on Dec. 20, 1888? And, along the way, she invented the first brake lining. On Dec. 21, 1620, the Pilgrams landed in Plymouth and you know the history from there. And then on Dec. 25, Christmas day, 1776, General George Washington crossed the Delaware River surprising the Hessian forces in Trenton and turned the tide of the Revolutionarywar. 

The annual Christmas Dinner will once again be held at the Legion Hall on Christmas Day from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. This free community Christmas dinner will feature all the holiday favorites including turkey, ham, potatoes, stuffing, a variety of pies and much more. For reservations call (207) 350-6686, but do it soon, as reservations are due Dec. 18. 

Now to start Christmas shopping!