Military families stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida were stunned this week after receiving a strict directive ordering them to take down their Christmas decorations.
The base ordered residents to remove all decor, even simple lights, because they had been put up “too early.”
The notice was issued by private housing contractor Balfour Beatty Communities.
It warned residents that early displays violated the company’s lease rules and must be removed immediately.
The memo, titled “One holiday at a time,” informed families that a patrol through the neighborhood had already “noticed that Christmas decorations have already begun to appear within the community.”
“All holiday decorations should be reflective in their respective months and not any sooner than 30 days before the given holiday,” it stated.
“If you currently have Yuletide decor present on the outside of your home, please remove it and reinstall it in accordance with your community guidelines.”
Under the posted rules, Christmas lights cannot be lit until the week after Thanksgiving, November 27 this year, and must be turned off at 11 p.m. every night.
Families Push Back: ‘People Need Joy However They Can Find It’
The memo quickly sparked debate among service members and their families on a Facebook page for Air Force personnel.
Some supported holding off holiday decorations, but many slammed the rule as needless and joyless.
“People need to find joy however they can right now,” one commenter wrote.
Another joked: “I mean, can we give Thanksgiving a chance?”
Base Confirms Memo Didn’t Come from Command
Capt. Justin Davidson-Beebe, Tyndall’s public affairs chief, confirmed the memo’s authenticity to Task & Purpose, which first reported the story, but stressed that this was not a military order.
“These guidelines are not part of a broader air force policy,” he said, noting that private housing firms set rules that vary by installation.
At Tyndall, the company is “enforcing the community standards outlined in the legally binding lease agreement all residents voluntarily sign.”
Why a Contractor Controls Christmas
Despite reforms under President Donald Trump in 2020, when then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper signed a sweeping Tenant Bill of Rights to rein in abuses by private housing companies, firms like Balfour Beatty still wield enormous control over military families.
The company has faced repeated scrutiny in recent years over substandard housing conditions and heavy-handed enforcement practices.
Now, even Christmas decor has become a flashpoint.
Even as the company insisted it was simply following policy, troops and veterans took to social media to mock the early-Christmas crackdown.
“The Grinch is running housing at Tyndall?” one user wrote.
“I’m the Grinch until the day after Thanksgiving — but it’s wild they have it in writing,” another said.
“Some people have more Christmas in their soul, let them be,” wrote another.
“Mail them a ton of Christmas cards. Seems appropriate. (With extra glitter),” One commenter joked.
“I might put my Christmas tree up today, just because of this,” another added.
For now, families at Tyndall are left with a blunt directive to take decorations down or face consequences from a contractor that, critics say, still has far too much unchecked authority over America’s service members and their families.
READ MORE – ‘Cloned Meat’ to Flood Canadian Food Supply Without Safety Reviews or Labeling
Our comment section is restricted to members of the Slay News community only.
To join, create a free account HERE.
If you are already a member, log in HERE.