A Thanksgiving for the Ages was celebrated 40 years ago in Fort Worth, Texas.
When my daughter Kandi and I lived in Fort Worth, my two girlfriends and I decided that it would be fun to have a dinner for people at Carswell Air Force Base. We decided we would invite those who couldn’t spend the day with their families. So, I went to the base commissary and posted an invitation to anyone who wanted to spend Thanksgiving with us. My friends, Janet, Mary, and I made a lot of food: two giant turkeys, two hams, and tons of vegetables and pies. In Fort Worth that year, it was 85 degrees during the day, so we mostly ate in the yard enjoying each other’s company. After dinner, we all decided to go to Trinity Park to walk off the big meal that we had enjoyed together. Kandi was 4 years old and was passed from Airman to Airman on their shoulders. You could hear her giggle for miles. As the sun went down, we decided to head back to the house for a change of clothes since the temperature was dropping, and we were all in shorts. After getting warmer clothes, we got back in the trucks, vans, and cars and drove back to the park to watch the lighting of the Christmas tree. To this day, that Thanksgiving has always meant more to me than any other holiday. The funny thing is that I cannot remember a single name…but, for one day in our lives, we were all one. I thank God for giving us the opportunity to come together and possibly make a difference in those young men’s lives. I know it made a difference to us and the way that we give thanks.