The Christmas holidays offer unnatural times for the majority of us. The usual scenes during the usual weeks give way to holiday spirit, special events, family traditions. Old connections are remembered and new memories often are found and preserved.
We must remember that not all joy is the experience for some individuals whether it is a first Christmas without a loved one, or, a difficulty in participating in the joys of the holiday.
Two notable events, however, touch souls this year. One is the 67th year of the Lehnertz Lights in Aurora, an annual event which brings fond memories to many individuals near and far. The other notable event is the extension of Christmas cheer by Christian Liberty Academy in Arlington Heights to 50 sailors from the Naval Station Great Lakes just outside of North Chicago in the northern suburbs. It will be the seventh year that the school will serve Christmas dinner to sailors who will not be home for Christmas.
First, Lehnertz Lights are special in many ways. You can click here for a photo of this year’s crib blessing, an annual event which begins the driving tradition to see decorations and messages on the houses and to hear the music. The Lehnertz Avenue Homeowners Association illuminates the displays in front of their homes. It was started in 1952 when 14 residents gathered together to promote the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of the Christ child. The Snoopy Christmas display was added in 1979 when houses were built on Lehnertz Circle east of Lehnertz Avenue. It is a worthwhile project which can been seen each year. This year it will be on display from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. through Friday, Jan. 4, 2019.
For a video of the crib blessing, click here. You can also read comments of those who live near and far about their memories. Comments are from many individuals who have moved away and remember the days and revisit the past with how they saw the spectacle many years ago and the comfort it brought them. This year’s Lehnertz video produced many comments and views.
Father Jerome Leake from St. Joseph’s Parish in Aurora has given the crib blessing for many years at the nativity scene near the park not far from Lehnertz Avenue and Ohio Street. New this year is the stable which was rebuilt after 30 years. Dave Danko knows. He built the stable 30 years ago and was the primary builder of the new one this year. He is in the front page photo with Father Leake and Lehnertz Avenue Board president Lisa Hardekopf.
There are other lights to be seen, including the annual Rotary Club of Aurora display in Phillips Park which will close at the end of the day December 26. New traditions are made every year.
The sailors from Great Lakes will remember this year’s Christmas Day dinner in Arlington Heights at Christian Liberty Academy. There will be hundreds of volunteers to ensure a home-like feeling away from home. There will be a flag line, free phone calls home all day; video games and television, all of which is not allowed on the base. There will be friendly faces.
Christmas is special and should be shared.