I thought this was an important message to share... 

By Kelli Germeraad

Thanksgiving is my favorite time of year. It is a time that slows us down before the fast pace of the Christmas season is upon us. It is a time for football, feasting, family and friends. A time to think about all of the things we have to be thankful for, even during this time of uncertainty in our country.

While many of us will spend time with family, thousands of men and women will not be home this Thanksgiving. Deployed to places far and wide, military personnel will keep watch on freedom's light. For some, turkey dinner will be in a mess tent with hundreds of others they call brothers and sisters. Some will stand at guard posts or monitor satellites; others will guard the seas, care for the wounded or sleep in foxholes where dinner might be meals ready to eat (MREs). Still others will be in hospitals, recovering from the wounds of war.

You and I will have the easy part: We will spend the day surrounded by our families, enjoying the peace and freedom that is guarded by the members of our armed forces. So as you bow your heads in prayer, make sure you offer your heartfelt thanks to these brave Americans. Many call them our military; many more of us call them family.