By LAURA BROOKHART / Community Columnist

“When I was 3 or 4, we were decorating the Christmas tree and singing Christmas carols. While we were singing “O Come All Ye Faithful,” I kept going to the front door and opening it. My mother scolded me about letting in the cold air until I finally explained to her that I was just doing what the song said. I thought that to come adore baby Jesus meant to open the door and let him in to get warm and enjoy our Christmas frivolity.” —M. Clark

“Each Christmas season, our family would walk together to find the ‘perfect’ Christmas tree through the woods near our house.This was before the many subdivisions in Helena. We would never find a perfect one and would just face the bare part of the tree towards a wall or in a corner.Going into the woods to find a Christmas tree symbolized the start of the holidays and the good times that lay ahead.” —D. Dearing

“Sometime in December in the early ‘90s, as Pelham police officer, I answered a domestic dispute call between a woman and her neighbor. Afterwards, I talked to reassure the children at the house—a boy, probably 12 and a little girl, perhaps 4. It was painfully obvious that this mother and two children were in need of many things and going through a deep financial hardship.

As Christmas week rolled around, I answered a call to a local discount store about a shoplifter. When I arrived the manger pointed out a 12-year-old boy, the one from the dispute. He had attempted to take a doll and doll accessories. He told me simply that he was getting toys for his little sister because he was afraid there would be nothing for her that Christmas.

Needless to say, the emotions kicked in. I paid for the toys, so no charges would result and then took the little boy home. At that point, I was on a mission. I asked the local FOP, Lodge 41 to help this family. Their members stepped up big time, delivering a load of toys to these children that I’m sure they will never forget. I know I won’t, as the joy in their eyes for that moment was priceless.” — Mayor M. Hall