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An Air Force photographer filled an album with images of overjoyed orphans and their Christmas gifts.
In the last two years, Earl Chilton, kneeling in front, has gotten calls and letters from about 20 orphans he helped in the 1950s. The girl beside him lives in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Emily and Earl Chilton of Bowling Green were stationed in Newfoundland in 1953-54 when he helped provide Christmas presents for orphans. In recent years, he has learned about the lasting impact of those good deeds.
The Chiltons, shown here in the 1950s, have been friends since childhood. |
By CATHY DYSON
Every December, the memories come back of the the time long ago when a military couple, far from home, coped with the loss of their baby by making Christmas special for orphans.
As the decades passed and the photos faded, the Chiltons of Caroline County never knew how their generosity affected children who needed it most.
Likewise, the youngsters from the frozen tundra of Newfoundland had no way to thank the Americans who had made their Christmas merry so many seasons ago--until an Internet connection brought the two groups together.
But let's start at the beginning of this special Christmas story.
'THEY SEEMED SO SAD'
In 1953, Earl Chilton was a 27-year-old master sergeant stationed at Pepperell Air Force Base in St. John's, Newfoundland. He and his wife, Emily, had their second baby in February, but little Robert Earl had a cerebral hemorrhage and died the day after he was born.
The Chiltons had grown up together in Bowling Green and were each other's first date. As they grieved, they gravitated toward the five orphanages in Newfoundland--now part of Canada--and often brought children home for the weekends.
About the same time, an American Legion post was formed at the base. Members picked Chilton their leader and named the post after his late son.
The Chiltons came to realize how dire the needs of the orphans were. The youngsters had nothing--no dolls, skates or bikes--to call their own, and some didn't know their birthdays or who their siblings were.
"The kids were poor and they seemed so sad," Emily said. "It was the least we could do."
Earl got the idea that every child should have a gift-wrapped Christmas present with his or her name on it. He sent around catalogs and started making a list of the hearts' desire of about 600 children.
As he pondered how to pay for the presents, he recalled how the kids sang and did tumbling acts when he and Emily visited. He put on a show at the base featuring the orphans and passed the hat afterward.
"We collected almost $5,400," he said. "This was a pile of money in 1953."
When the base's commanding general heard about Earl's efforts, he offered the use of his plane and crew--so Earl could fly to New York City and get the most with the money.
An officer there arranged for buyers from major department stores to meet with Earl and go over his list.
It was an overwhelming experience for a small-town country boy.
"Here I was, in my 20s, from Bowling Green, and I'd never been to New York," Earl said. "I'd been overseas and seen cities torn apart by war, but nothing like New York."
'A SIGHT TO SEE'
The merchants donated so many toys and clothes, Earl filled a second plane. He got every child a couple toys--and clothes--and still had $1,800 left, with which he bought bicycles for each orphanage.
He called Emily and told her to get the women together for a wrapping party.
On Christmas Eve, five men in Santa suits headed to the orphanages. Earl wasn't one of them; he's more a behind-the-scenes kind of guy.
And what a scene he saw.
Faded black-and-white photos, taken by an Air Force photographer, fill an album the Chiltons held on to through the many times they moved. The pictures show children grinning from ear to ear as they sit atop shiny new bikes and play board games. Some hold dolls; others sport cowboy hats.
One image looks like a Norman Rockwell painting. It shows four boys peering anxiously out of a glass window, waiting for Santa.
"Christmas really turned out great," Earl said. "It was a sight to see."
'REALLY SPECIAL PEOPLE'
Earl organized the Christmas effort again in 1954, then was moved to another base. The American Legion post continued the program for another five years.
Earl spent 23 years in the service, with tours in Europe, near Portugal and throughout the United States.
He became a Caroline magistrate after he retired from the Air Force.
He and Emily, who have been married 63 years, went on to have five children, eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Most of their family lives within 30 minutes of Bowling Green and their famous "Red Barn," where they host salt-fish breakfasts every May.
Over the years, the Chiltons thought of the orphans, especially at Christmas. They'd look at the album and wonder how the "kids"--now in their 60s and late 70s--were doing.
One day in 2008, Emily was at Select Physical Therapy in Bowling Green, doing exercises after a knee replacement.
Earl, who's always made a point of getting to know people, started talking with receptionist Donna Bailey.
He told her about his time in Newfoundland and the Christmas program he organized. As he described how grateful the orphans were, tears trickled down his cheeks, Bailey said.
She decided she'd try to find the orphans through the Internet, to do something for the couple who's always been so kind to others.
"Mr. and Mrs. Chilton are really special people," Bailey said. "They're both sweethearts, and I love them dearly."
'YOU WERE THE KINGPIN'
Bailey looked up one of the facilities Earl mentioned--Mount Cashel Orphanage--and posted a query on its Web site. If anyone knew about the Christmas programs sponsored by American at the Newfoundland orphanages in 1953 and 1954, could they please contact her?
"People started responding like crazy," she said.
The first to answer was Patrick Williams, who posted Bailey's request on other sites. Before Bailey knew it, she had e-mails to fill a scrapbook, which she presented Earl on his birthday in August 2008.
Earl and Emily cried. They were astonished that the children remembered them --and by the impact made by one young serviceman who reached out to others.
"Although we never knew his name, we are all forever grateful for his kindness," Williams wrote about Earl.
Lorraine Allen commented that the American servicemen were the only bright spot in the orphans' bleak existence.
"It is nice, after all these years, to find out who our benefactor was," she wrote. "Though it was all of the American servicemen, you were the kingpin who launched the Christmas program, and for that your place will be right beside God when the day comes."
In recent years, the Chiltons have heard awful news about the orphanages, where sexual and physical abuse were rampant. Mount Cashel's home page states it was "Newfoundland's House of Horrors."
It breaks Earl's heart to think of what the children endured. But as another orphan pointed out, his gestures of goodwill stayed with them for a lifetime.
"You may know about some of the terrible things that occurred in the same time frame," said Jimmyjoe Eason, "but those Christmas gifts were a big cause in my still believing in the goodness of people."
'THEY WERE ALL HEART'
The Chiltons' reunion with orphans they knew almost six decades ago didn't end with e-mails.
Three orphans visited the Chiltons in fall 2008 and again this past September. Eason, who said Earl restored his faith in humanity, came from Canada to Caroline with his sister and cousin.
Eason spent 33 years in the Canadian Army and played bagpipes in the Canadian Guards. He brought the pipes along and played as he marched down the brick sidewalk of the Chilton home.
Friends throughout the Chiltons' neighborhood heard the music and came over to see what was happening.
There wasn't a moment of awkwardness between the former serviceman and the long-ago orphans.
"It was like we'd been seeing each other everyday," said Earl, who's 83.
"We really enjoyed it," added Emily, 82.
The groups have stayed in touch, and about 20 people write and call the Chiltons regularly. There's no e-mail communication because the Chiltons don't have a computer.
As the newfound friends talked, the Chiltons mentioned the plain wooden marker they put on their son's grave. The ground was frozen solid when he died, and the Chiltons never had a chance to put anything else there.
The orphans replaced the wooden cross with a carved headstone that features the picture of an angel. They also held a memorial service.
It's their way to thank strangers who made such a difference, so many years ago.
"God bless the American service personnel, they were all heart," wrote Doug Fowler in an e-mail. "We were without parents and the love that a parent gives. At least we were loved at Christmas.
"I have not forgotten that kindness and never will," Fowler continued. "You will always be in my prayers."
Cathy Dyson: 540/374-5425
Email: cdyson@freelancestar.com
