On the morning of December 25, 1914, a remarkable thing happened on the battlefields of WWI. German and British soldiers on the front lines held up signs in each other’s languages reading, “Merry Christmas.” Soon after, envoys from both sides warily climbed out of the trenches, approached one another unarmed, and shook hands. So began one of the most inspiring instances of humanism amidst the most ruthless war the world had ever known… During the “Christmas Truce” of WWI, soldiers defied the rituals of warfare in favor of peace and camaraderie. Tentative handshakes gave way to an escalating series of friendly gestures including exchanging goods, singing carols, and playing soccer, proving that cross-cultural interaction has the ability to reduce hostility even during the most devastating of conflicts. Today, one hundred years later, we reflect upon the “Christmas Truce,” and honor our organization’s founders - the American Field Service volunteer ambulance drivers of World Wars I and II who understood the value in fostering cross-cultural exchanges. Together and with your support, we carry their legacy forward by ensuring that AFS will serve increasing numbers of people for generations to come. During this holiday season, 100 years after the Christmas Truce, we thank you for taking those first steps, whether it was studying abroad, sending your son or daughter on exchange, welcoming a student from another country into your home, volunteering in your community, or simply choosing to have a conversation with a person from a culture that is different from your own. Every action you take to bring more understanding into the world, and every contribution you make to AFS-USA, honors our past and secures our future.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 16:53:35 +0000