What’s one of your favorite Thanksgiving memories?

I was thinking about this today, thinking about this Thanksgiving and remembering a very special Thanksgiving when I was young. It’s still one of my favorite memories and I am fortunate to have lots of them.

I think I was around 5 years old and it was the night before Thanksgiving.

A big truck pulled up to our house and seven or so of my dad’s friends all came into our dining room. They started to bring in boxes of food, veggies, turkeys, and cans and all sorts of stuff was piled up everywhere. Then, my dad pulled out a long list and all the men started filling the boxes from this list. I knew some of the men, but not all of them.

Of course I asked what it was all about.

My dad told me this was a list from the priests and ministers and rabbi from our town of all the people who may not have enough money to have a good Thanksgiving dinner. So he and his friends got donations of food and money from stores and people to fill these boxes so everyone could have a great Thanksgiving.

I asked to help and I got to count out the potatoes and put them in the right boxes. They kept talking and laughing and working until there were piles of boxes filled with food in the living room and dining room.

Once the boxes were packed they took out a map and put it on the table. My dad explained that they were figuring out the best roads to take so they could deliver everything.

When I asked him who the families were, he smiled and said, “We don’t know. We ask the priests and rabbi not to give us their names, just their addresses so they won’t feel funny or embarrassed that they don’t have enough food this year.

I know my eye must have been wide open at this point. Then he said, “We drive to their house, put the food on the porch or front step. Then we ring the bell and drive away.”

I was in awe. I didn’t know what to say, but I was so proud of him.

They took all of the boxes to the truck and came back in to say goodbye.
Then I looked at all the men in my house and saw they had hats on. I’d never seen those hats before and so I asked one of the men what they were.

He said, “We are veterans and these are the hats we wore when we fought for our country.”

I looked again and all the men smiled. They wore their hats, stood taller and looked at me. And my dad said, “You know, we all just really like to help.”

Then they left laughing and joking and got into the truck and drove away.

I’m tearing up right now, remembering that band of brothers in my house making Thanksgiving for people they would never really know.

Thank you Dad, and all your friends for a simple memory that still moves and inspires me today!

What’s one of your favorite Thanksgiving memories?

 

 


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