Our Dependence Day
This Thanksgiving, I was grateful for the opportunity to sit around a table surrounded by my family to laugh, talk and give thanks for all of the blessings we have been given. I know that many other Oklahomans celebrated their traditions this Thanksgiving as well. But, I also recognize that there are men and women who spent the holidays overseas, away from their families, serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and other parts of the world. And while we all look forward to the day when they will be physically reunited with their loved ones, I know they were present in thoughts and prayers around the Thanksgiving tables of a grateful nation.
In early October I was able to visit with Oklahoma service members overseas during what was my seventh trip to Iraq since I have been in Congress. I was honored to be able to sit around the lunch table with our troops as they shared personal stories and proudly showed me pictures of their spouses and children. Each time I visit those brave Oklahomans, I leave more deeply impressed of the quality and character of the members of our military as well as those working in leadership positions. Their sacrifice humbles me and their absence during the holidays poignantly reminds me what the cost of a safe Thanksgiving truly means for many American families.
As I count my blessings this Thanksgiving, I thank God for the soldiers throughout our nation's history who have bravely fought to secure the freedoms that we enjoy today. Each of those men and women, who are enduring the discomfort of being many miles away from home this holiday season, deserve our prayers and thoughts. I am encouraged, though, when I see so many Oklahomans reaching out to our soldiers in a number of ways. Some are sending gifts and writing letters of encouragement, while others are going the extra mile to invite families of service members over into fellowship with them for the holidays. This generous spirit displayed by Americans this holiday truly encapsulates the meaning of Thanksgiving.
Statesman William Jennings Bryan once said that "on Thanksgiving Day we acknowledge our dependence." His simple declaration should ring true to us all. This holiday season we should take the time to realize that there are thousands of Americans bravely performing their duties abroad to protect us each and every day. We are indeed dependent on each of them as well as each other. Taking a moment away from our busy holiday schedules to give them our thoughts, thanks and prayers is incredibly important this season. For those things -they are depending on us.