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Giving Thanks

  • Published
  • By Lt. Gen. Gary North
  • Commander, U.S. Air Forces Central and 9th Air Expeditionary Task Force
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, South Carolina --  During our nation's Civil War, the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln issued the first official Thanksgiving proclamation in 1863 as a day of thanksgiving and praise. 

Thanksgiving has grown into the most traveled holiday for Americans to visit loved ones. For those of us who proudly serve and wear the uniform while deployed in the AOR, we will not be among those traveling home. Instead, we will be in the AOR alongside other deployed warriors from the US military and our coalition combat partners sharing a meal, telling stories of thanksgivings past and thinking of our families and of the many blessings that we all are thankful for this year. 

Without a doubt, your friends and family, far away, will be having the same thoughts and feelings. Many will be wondering if you were able to get some down time to enjoy a thanksgiving meal or service or even that American tradition of catching the parades or a football game on TV, or in some cases, if you had time to even think about home. My message is simple...make sure you take time in the next few days to contact family members and reassure them...for it's our families and our comrades and our way of life...the blessing of freedom that we should be most thankful for on Thanksgiving day, and everyday. 

Thanksgiving is but one day of the 365 that we are given to think about 'giving thanks.' Be thankful for the friendships and family you have in your life and for the ability to provide for them. Every one of us can give thanks that we live in a country where anything is possible and we have the right to make so many choices in our lives. 

At the same time our fellow citizens are counting on us to stay focused on our mission during the holiday season so they feel safe and secure. Recently USAF Chief of Staff, Gen Norman Schwartz, addressing a National Defense University class said, "Our citizens place a special trust in the profession of arms and for our part, that trust is earned and kept through ceaseless devotion to faithful stewardship of national resources." This is an important responsibility that is not lost on our military professionals or those that depend on them for protection. 

You can be proud of what you do every day here in the AOR in supporting the global war on terrorism and providing security for your fellow Americans. As well, we all are proud of our families back at home this Thanksgiving, leading and serving with honor and distinction while we are deployed.