The Allies had the Germans on the run in December 1944, although the Nazis had one more punch to deliver. Early in that month, American GIs liberated that town of Wiltz in Luxemburg that had been under the German boot for four and a half years. Peter Lion, author of The American St. Nick, says the Americans were a little homesick and also wanted to treat the children of Wiltz to a Christmas party.
“One of the soldiers, his name is Harry Stutz, got the idea of, well, you know maybe we could throw a Christmas party or Saint Nicholas party for these people in town, because they've not been able to celebrate this holiday during the Nazi occupation,” Lion said.
Stutz talked his friend Richard Brookins, who picks up the story from here, into putting on the local priest's vestments and play St. Nicholas.
“They did have the props of a bishop's miter and a scepter which was held together by tape because the crook of the scepter had broken, but it was taped on, and a rope beard,” Brookins said.
Brookins, now St. Nick, rode in on a jeep to deliver the candy and gifts for the kids. A good time was had by all, and the GIs went on with their war.
The gift of giving
But in 1977 word reached Brookins, now living a quiet life in Rochester, New York, that Wiltz had been recreating the drama every year since 1944. He was invited back, and went twice, once in 1977 and again in 2009, when the town dedicated a wooden statue of his St. Nicholas and a museum in his honor.
He told the people of Wiltz the honor was all his.
"Today I might be almost 93 years old, but not really. Today I'm 22 again because I'm with you."
