FReeper Canteen ~ Happy Thanksgiving To Our Troops ~ Send A Message ~ 24 Nov 2005

~ Happy Thanksgiving ~
Giving Thanks to those that serve our great Nation.

Thanksgiving Message to the Troops From the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Each year, on Thanksgiving Day, Americans everywhere join with family and friends to give thanks for the many blessings we enjoy as citizens of this great land. It is a tradition that goes back to our colonial forebears, and it is a celebration that is uniquely American.

The freedoms we enjoy and for which we give thanks on this day did not come without great sacrifice. America's brave sons and daughters have, time and again, answered the call to defend this great country and our way of life.

On this Thanksgiving Day, we are again engaged in a global conflict fighting to defend our freedoms and our way of life. A new generation of courageous soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and coast guardsmen has answered the call, and together we will prevail in the challenge ahead. To all of you in uniform today, thank you for your service to our great Nation. Your dedication to duty and selfless service are truly a blessing to us all.

On this special American holiday, a day when duty will keep many of you away from home and separated from family and loved ones, the Joint Chiefs of Staff join me in sending you and your families our best wishes. You are in our thoughts and prayers and in the thoughts and prayers of each citizen of our Nation. May God bless you and may God bless America.

RICHARD B. MYERS Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

President Bush's Thanksgiving Message

Thanksgiving is a holiday rooted in the American spirit of gratitude and sharing. We see this spirit in America today. When the communities along the Gulf Coast were devastated by Hurricane Katrina, Americans came together to provide help for their neighbors in need. It was a remarkable outpouring of compassion and generosity. That outpouring of compassion demonstrated once again that the great strength of our country lies in the hearts and souls of our citizens.

We also give thanks on Thanksgiving for our many blessings, and we thank those who are far away from home who protect our freedoms. It's through the courage and skill of our Armed Forces that we're safe as a nation, and we're very proud of their service.

We think of our military families who will have an empty seat at the table this Thanksgiving. The American people are thankful for the sacrifice of the American military families, as well. America's men and women in uniform and their families have our gratitude -- not only on Thanksgiving, but on every day.

Our guest of honor seems about ready to come on in and say hello. So without further ado, I grant Marshmallow and Yam a presidential pardon. In the meantime, may God bless you all and your families during this Thanksgiving season.

--President Bush (from whitehouse.gov)

~ Thanksgiving Traditions & Misc~
Are you stuffed yet?
Want to click something?

Thanksgiving Tradition

History of Thanksgiving

Canadian Thanksgiving

Plimoth Plantation

Facts and Quiz about Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving.org

Thank you to Diva Betsy Ross for the links!!

Thanksgiving Message From A Veteran:

As a soldier who has spent many holidays away from home and family, it certainly makes you really consider everyday with my family a holiday.

I recently got word that I will be called up again next year. I look forward to the opportunity to serve the people of this great country. To fight for OUR freedom abroad so we don't have to fight on American soil.

Drill Sergeant David C. Osborne, USAR

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Note from DBR: I am thankful that there are Patriotic Amerucans such as Sgt. Osborne and all of our troops- who defend us. God bless them all!

Thanksgiving
by MoJo2001

My first Thanksgiving as a Navy wife was celebrated on November 1994 in Yigo, Guam. The Sailor and myself celebrated Thanksgiving with family, Aussies, Chamorros, Kiwis, a group of single Sailors, a few Veterans, a lot of Samoans, a woman from Bahrain and her Air Force hubby, a few folks from Saipan, cousins from Tahiti, relatives from Japan, my great grandfather, the ever busybody of the family Aunt Vesi, and my Golden Retriever--Goldie. It was truly an international Thanksgiving for both of us.

Our first Thanksgiving feast consisted of the traditional American servings, but we also had red beans and rice, and foods from each of the other countries represented. MoJo enjoyed eating Turkey, poi, and sushi. Yummy, huh? Hehe.

My Thanksgiving experience has always been a bit different. For the first 5 years of my life, I never even celebrated Thanksgiving because I was usually in New Zealand or Australia at the time. My first Thanksgiving in America was so strange because I refused to go outside. I wasn't used to Ohio Novembers. Add into the mix that the language barrier was awkward, my first Thanksgiving wasn't very eventful. Eating a turkey wasn't something you would do on the islands. So? This was an extremely difficult thing to process.

For someone who don't start off celebrating Thanksgiving, it has become an important holiday. It reminds me that I could've ended up somewhere else. Having spent it as a Navy wife, it reminds me that our military do the best they can to uphold our traditions wherever they are located. They may not be surrounded by family, but they will make an effort to spend it with others in the same situation. If it requires improvising, they will do it. Why? It's Thanksgiving and on this date in November, that's what Americans do.

As you are enjoying your holiday festivities, please remember our Troops. Remember the Soldier that will be on patrol or duty tomorrow while you are eating your turkey. Remember the Sailor that will be standing watch in the middle of the Ocean while you are having that slice of pumpkin pie. Remember, the Coasties that will be patrolling our seas while you are rooting for the Dallas Cowboys. Remember the Airman that will be fixing one of the jets while you are cleaning up. Remember the Marine that will be guarding the checkpoints while you sit around enjoying something funny. Remember our National Guard and Reservists while you are playing games with your family.

By remembering them during this holiday of Thanksgiving, you are following a long tradition of the American spirit and our military: We do not forget our own.

From all of us in the FReeper Canteen to our military heroes around the world:

Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank God for you!

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