Today was the day the U.S. military withdrew from Iraq completely, ending the war in Iraq. No matter what we think of the war, families will either receive their members back alive, or mourn for their death. This is the case for Edie Deyarmin, whose son, Daniel Deyarmin, Jr., died while serving thr country there. Lance Cpl. Daniel Nathan Deyarmin, Jr., originally from Tallmadge, Ohio (not too far from Akron), was a Marine sniper was killed with four other Reservists in August in 2005. This holiday season, we are reminded that not every family will celebrate with all their loved ones, but will celebrate with family nonetheless. Also, this year, many families, whether they have members in military service or not, have been through a lot this year, economically. Luckily, there is a classic movie that highlights the need for family, and its importance: 1944's Meet Me In St. Louis.
The movie stars Judy Garland, Margaret O'Brien, Mary Astor, Lucille Bremer, Leon Ames, Tom Drake, Marjorie Main, Harry Davenport, and June Lockhart, and it is simply about a year in the life of a family. Directed by Vincente Minnelli, the movie takes place in the year leading up to the 1904 World's Fair, which was held in the title city. We open in the summer, where Esther Smith, pklayed by Judy Garland has a crush on her neighbor,Tom Truett, played by Tom Drake, but who does not recognize the girl next door. They formally meet at a party held by the older Smith girls (Lucille Bremer and Joan Carroll). But, things get bad when Esther's younger sister , Tootie, played by Margaret O'Brien in an Academy Award winning performance (a juvenile award, as they did not have MTV back then), comes home injured from trick-or-treating and says that Tom injured her, and Esther goes to his house and literally kicks his tuckas. It is a very cool scene. When she returns home, however, Tootie tells her the truth about what he did, and she goes to his house to his house where she apologizes and they share a kiss. As soon as this happens, Mr. Smith (Leon Ames) announces that he got a job offer in New York and the family will be moving at the beginning of the year. This devastes the family, and there is a touching scene with Margaret O'Brien and Judy Garland where the carol "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" is born.
While the movie shows a family experiencing minor economic adversity, this film is perfect for the holidays because it shows us what the holiday season is really all about: the closeness of those we love centered around the practice of traditions, in which new memories are made for the New Year ahead.
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