Coalition forces candlelight Christmas eve service at Camp Phoenix

(24 Dec 2009) SHOTLIST 1. Various of US soldiers singing Christmas carols 2. Mid of soldiers during service, soldiers wiping away tears 3. Close of soldiers wiping away tears 4. Various of soldiers holding candles and singing carols 5. Various of soldier drumming 6. Soldiers with heads bowed in prayer, Military Chaplain Mark Edwards in foreground with hands clasped 7. Close of Edwards with hands clasped in front of his face in prayer 8. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Edwards, US Military Chaplain: "Coming here tonight, having the candlelight, (Christmas) Eve Christmas service has brought forth unity. It feels a little bit of home. Being away from my family, being here with the soldiers tonight gave us a sense of unity." 9. Soldiers preparing plate of wafers and cup of wine for Holy Communion 10. Various of soldiers receiving Communion STORYLINE US soldiers stationed in Afghanistan gathered late on Thursday for a Christmas Eve service in Kabul''s Camp Phoenix. The soldiers sang Christmas carols and prayed together during the candle-lit service. US Military Chaplain Mark Edwards said the gathering helped give soldiers a sense of unity and helped them deal with being away from their homes and families at Christmas. "Coming here tonight, having the candlelight, (Christmas) Eve Christmas service has brought forth unity. It feels a little bit of home," Edwards said. "Being away from my family, being here with the soldiers tonight gave us a sense of unity." Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...