As the days get shorter and the leaves fall to the ground, it is a sure sign that the holiday season is upon us.  This season always starts with Thanksgiving.  This year, Thanksgiving is even more special.

Thanksgiving is always a time for families and friends to gather around the table and feast on turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberries, pumpkin pies and other delicacies.  It is a time to look back on the year and to be thankful for all of the gifts given to us.  It is the time to welcome relatives and friends from far away – sons and daughters from colleges, grandparents from the places of our childhood, friends from far and near.    

Yet on this most American of holidays, we should stop and remember the thousands of brave men and women who are unable to be with their families – those who are in uniform defending those rights across the globe.  When we give thanks for the blessings we have received, we must also give thanks for those who protect these blessings.  These are especially important to us who have chosen to care for these most deserving citizens, our nation’s veterans. 

So, as you wait for your plane or maneuver through heavy traffic on the interstate, think of those who are defending our freedom and our way of life.  As you gather around the thanksgiving table with family and friends, think of those who cannot be with their family.  Please have a safe and healthy Thanksgiving, and when I count my blessings on Thanksgiving Day, high on the list will be the men and women who everyday provide service to veterans and those union officials who work tirelessly to achieve and create a safe working environment.

On behalf of the entire AFGE/National Veterans Affairs Council, I would like to wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!