Tomorrow is the day that we sit around a table of blessings. Our family, the food, the room we sit in and the freedom to pray what we pray are just a few to mention. We all have so much to be grateful for.
This time of year is a little sad for us as a family. We have two sons who are not going to be at the table tomorrow. One is in Iraq and the other is in the field finishing up his BCT training. Spending a holiday without them is a small sacrifice compared to what they are giving, but it is a sacrifice nonetheless. It helps us to remember that having a son in Iraq may be hard, but we have not had to walk the path of a Gold Star family. Their sacrifice is unmeasurable and it’s vital that we remember them for this, and every, holiday.
In this holiday of Giving Thanks can you maybe do something extra to help the families at Ft. Hood who are facing this holiday season with the memory of their soldier. They do not sit and stare at an empty chair with hope that next year will be different. The thread of hope to see that soldier again is broken when he/she falls. We need to reach out to the families and surviving soldiers in every way possible to give them a new thread of hope to cling to.
So, here’s my proposal for a new “side dish” on your menu. This year at your Thanksgiving table, no matter where you meet to feast, put an empty pot on the table. Ask your guests to think for a moment about where they would be today if it were not for the sacrifices of our Service Members and their families. Then invite them to share what they can and will. Leave the pot out all day long so people can give if and when they are ready. You can also leave a card near the pot and ask your guests to leave a note of encouragement. That card can be sent to the address below.
Afterward, send that donation to Soldier’s Angels. They have a donate button on their site that you can use to give the offering. Below is a blurb from their website about what they are doing:
Soldiers’ Angels is assessing the needs and–with our founder currently residing in Texas–standing by to offer physical and emotional support to our heroes and their families at Fort Hood.
RIGHT NOW: Collecting encouraging notes and NEW stuffed animals for the families and children of the injured or killed. Please send cards/letters and stuffed animals (and anything NEW that may brighten the life of a child) to:
Soldiers’ Angels
4408 PanAm Expressway
San Antonio, TX 78218Plans are still developing, but the goal is to give these families and injured heroes something big to smile about when Christmas rolls around. It starts with the $2,000 gift certificate for Christmas for an experience on Christmas Day that will make them forget about it all for at least a little while. To contribute to the effort, click the donation button in the upper left and add type “For Ft. Hood” in the comment box that pops up (donations marked this way will be used only for Ft. Hood survivors).
