The Post-Journal
The Glorious Day Called Thanksgiving
NOV 26, 2022
ROLLAND KIDDER
Having just
experienced another Thanksgiving, I can’t help but write about it. The saying
goes: “There is nothing as American as apple pie,”… but I would
add to that Thanksgiving.
It is a
patriotic day but more than that…it is a family day. Couched in the old story
of the pilgrims being befriended by the Indians (Native Americans) who helped
them survive hunger in the early days–Thanksgiving has morphed into a
celebration of being grateful and of being a time to be with family.
One thing I
have always appreciated is that it is a time when no gifts are expected to be
exchanged and even ornaments are optional. A special dinner is, of course, the
centerpiece. But, the “centerpiece within the centerpiece” is that
the family gathers in a laid-back fashion with no particular agenda other than
to enjoy each other and the day together.
Sometimes “family” are not
those who are tied together by blood bonds. Such was the case for me in 1969 on
the Vinh Te Canal in Vietnam along the Cambodian border. We were just a half
mile from the border and every night we were out setting up positions trying to
stop the North Vietnamese from crossing into South Vietnam. It wasn’t a very
pleasant place to be, and maybe for that reason the Navy decided that we should
be treated to a Thanksgiving dinner. It was airfreighted to us by helicopter
accompanied by the Commander of Naval Forces Vietnam, Admiral Zumwalt.
“Zummie,” as the guys called him, sometimes was not the
most popular guy in town, especially if it was in the middle of the night and
B-40 rockets were incoming. “Why doesn’t he come down here in
12 hours and see what it is really like,” some of the troops groused.
Yet, their tempers changed when they saw the “big man” himself
getting out of the helicopter which had landed on the dike line bringing hot
turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy along with some pumpkin pie. Those memories
have not faded. We were family then but in a different way. When you are in
combat or expecting it night-after-night, it glues you together. We were
together as a “family” there in 1969 though none of us were otherwise
related to each other.
But, back to
now… not only did we watch the usual Thanksgiving football games…we watched the
Bills win a hard-fought game in Detroit! The Bills are almost family–at least
the number of Bills’ hats and shirts would make you think so. We decided to
wait until the game was over before sitting down for dinner. It was nothing
special–only the usual turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, squash, stuffing,
cranberry sauce, and the “green surprise” salad
topped off with a choice of apple or pumpkin pie for dessert.
And, who says
we shouldn’t be grateful? How does it get any better than that? We are lucky to
live in this country with all of the bounty it provides. It also makes you
think about those who are less fortunate.
Tomorrow, most
of our group will be on their way home. It is always sad to see them go, but
work begins again on Monday and there is traveling to do. But, I will guarantee
you, next year at about this time most of them will be gathering again. There
is something about Thanksgiving that makes you want to be together.
