I love Thanksgiving. When I think of this holiday, two songs come to mind, “Over the River and Through the Woods” and “We Gather Together to Ask the Lord’s Blessing.”

Family and faith- those are what Thanksgiving means to me. I remember learning, in grade school, about the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving – we colored pictures of them and of turkeys which were placed on the wall of our classroom.

I recall being taken to church on Thanksgiving Eve by my parents and later

taking my own family to those services. Growing up during the Depression years our extended family did not meet

often for large dinners but I do recall that when we did meet, both of my grandmothers cooking a menu that included huge bowls of mashed potatoes. A more important meaning to us was that we got to play with our cousins, Wallie, John, Dave, Dan, Bob, Paula, Doug and Tom.

Later, with my own growing family, we would meet on Thanksgiving with my siblings and their children at my mother’s home where she roasted the entree- usually a big fat chicken.

Again, the warmth of being with family, watching cousins play together, is so important on Thanksgiving Day.

I must say, though, Thanksgiving Day would not be complete without the Macy’s parade. I remember cooking my dish for the family dinner but taking time out to catch parts of the parade including the Rockettes.

Those afternoon football games have also become part of the tradition.

The first Thanksgiving, set aside for prayer as well as thanks, was observed on July 30, 1623 in Massachusetts. Different dates were observed through the years until 1941 when President Franklin Roosevelt declared it would be observed the fourth Thursday in November.

Today, Thanksgiving seems to be in the way of the Christmas shopping season. I hope that we all find time to go over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house and to give our thanks for the blessings we are given. I wish each of you and your families, a warm and pleasant Thanksgiving.

50 years ago, November, 1966

Pictured was the Cardington High School affirmative debate team:

Gary Ebert, Larry Smith, Linda Pecko, Douglas Ebert, and Larry Beckel. Fae Burr, teacher, was the coach. Lieutenant Commander Kent Curl, who was enrolled in a course in command weapons systems and orientation at the Naval Guided Missile School in Dam Neck, Virginia Beach, VA had visited his mother, Mrs. H. H. Curl over the Thanksgiving holiday. He was to be enrolled in the prospective commanding officers school in San Francisco and Hawaii. He had been on the USS Daniel Boone, a Polaris Sub and was to join as the executive officer the gold crew of the USS Kamehameha, a Polaris sub.

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By Evelyn Long

The Sentinel

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