Give thanks for liberty's defenders

When America has called, they have put their lives on the line.

MOUNDS OF FOOD - turkey and all the trimmings. The joy of having family and loved ones close. A grateful prayer for all the blessings of life, liberty, health and plenty in this great nation.

And, of course, thanks for a day of rest from the demands of work.

On Thanksgiving Day, that's the agenda for most folks. It's a day to relax, overeat and indulge in the joys of the season. Americans have much for which to be thankful. It is an amazing blessing just to call the United States home, to have access to the most modern, successful and progressive nation ever constructed by mankind. Never forget that we stand on the shoulders of all those who worked and sacrificed to make America what it is today.

ON THIS THANKSGIVING DAY, however, we suggest that families take a few minutes to give thanks for a very special group of men and women - those serving in the military during these perilous times.

Hundreds of thousands of them will not be home for Thanksgiving. There are no holidays in war. While we carve the turkey, they will be standing watch on the front lines of the War on Terror.

Many of them are serving their second or third rotation in Iraq or Afghanistan. Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, the U.S. military has answered the call to arms with courage and devotion, doing all that has been asked of it.

It also should be remembered that military personnel took the lead in relief efforts when the deadly tsunami pounded Indian Ocean coastlines. And in New Orleans, the arrival of military personnel and equipment finally turned the tide toward effective relief and rescue. When the needs are greatest, the men and women in uniform perform best.

Today, think about this. Since Washington commanded a ragtag army of colonial volunteers more than 225 years ago there have always been soldiers willing to risk it all on behalf of their countrymen. They have carried the burden of freedom on land, sea and air. The white crosses that mark their final resting places stand as mute testimony to their commitment to liberty.

Give special thanks today for these brave souls, who are at-risk while we gather around the table. In more ways than we can count, they are the best of us.