The tradition of Thanksgiving or so it has been told began in 1621 when the Colonists and the local Native Americans joined together to celebrate the harvest. For the Colonists it was not just a celebration of having a successful harvest but one of the beginning of a free society. However complete freedom took a while longer to be achieved.

It wasn’t until the Revolutionary War ended that the United States was able to shed the King of England’s reign over this country. Thanksgiving festival and feasts were held each year to give thanks to the harvest and the freedoms we as a nation had been blessed with. President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 proclaimed that this day in November would be set as a day to give thanks. Something this country needed as it was once again in the middle of conflict. This time not with a foreign enemy but with its own citizens…The Civil War.

Please take time to reflect on what you have to be thankful for. Look beyond the material things, look at the blessings in your life.  Remember family and friends whether they are… close by or far away. A call or a quick message will make their day knowing that you remember and are thankful for them being a part of your life.

Remember too…the more turkey you eat today…the fewer turkey leftovers you have to eat later!  Happy Thanksgiving!

To all of my fellow Veterans who are serving or have served, I Thank You for your service and sacrifice. To your families I also wish to say Thank You for your loving support and strength during those difficult and trying times that each has endured or will endure as their loved one serves.

Many point out that to show your appreciation to a Veteran is to thank them for their service…this is something one should do without saying. But the one thing often overlooked is the Veteran’s family. Those serving who have family at home need to know that they are safe and secure. In these times, stress of worrying about their family’s well being is a distraction that can shift their attention from the performance of their duties, a distraction which can have serious ramifications.

If you know of a service member’s family that needs ANYTHING!…assist them in anyway you can. It could be a donation of food or simply a chore around their home that needs doing that they can’t do themselves. Knowing that their family is being cared for is probably the greatest way to show respect and thanks for their service and sacrifice. Knowing all is well at home, allows them to focus on their mission and the tasks at hand.

In Honor of Those Serving and Those Who Have Served!

SALUTE!