Christmas Message From R.S.A. President

Northern Advocate, 19 December 1945, Page 6

Christmas Message From R.S.A. President

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Dominion president of the Returned Services Association (Mr B. J. Jacobs) has issued the following official Christmas message to all ex-ser-vicemen:

“At last the hopes we expressed have been realised and we are about to celebrate Christmas once again free from the grim shadow of war and its accompanying anxiety and sadness. “On the eve of the festive season I desire, on behalf of the N.Z.R.S.A., to extend to all ex-servicemen and to those still in the services the very best of wishes for the coming Christmas and for the New Year.

“We particularly remember men and women who are sick, maimed or disabled. Our thoughts fly also to comrades never to return and to their relatives.

“To us who are left there still remains a challenge if we are to reap the full benefit of the sacrifices made. ' “Our answer to that challenge should be to make a* solemn resolve that discharge from the forces does not signify the termination of our service, but that rather.it marks our entry into a wider field of sendee to our country.

“In the sure certainty that our association will continue its efforts in this direction, I convey my simple message to all, confidently expressing the hope that 1946 will usher in a long period of happy and peaceful prosperity, in the promotion and maintenance of which we, as. a united body, shall have made a substantial contribution."