THANKS: Honor those now serving
It was a time of war. In the words of our 16th President Abraham Lincoln “… a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity…” in his proclamation speech on Oct. 3, 1863, that established Thanksgiving as an annual event held on the last Thursday of November. However, the holiday was not officially observed by the United States military in that year since it was beyond the capabilities of the Commissary. It was war after all, and the food needs of the military were enormous. A diet of hardtack, salt meat and no vegetables was typical, and quickly lead to scurvy.
In the British Navy, sailors sucked limes to get Vitamin C to prevent scurvy since they commonly ran out of vegetables on their voyages. Hence, the name “Limey.” It wasn’t until the following year did the Union soldiers and sailors have their Thanksgiving dinner, thanks to The Union League Club of New York City.
The club launched a public campaign to provide Thanksgiving dinner to soldiers and sailors. Enormous quantities of poultry, meats, vegetables, cheese and mince pies were donated and distributed to the troops. Captain George F. Noyes of General Phil Sheridan’s Army commented that “The want of proper appliances compelled most of the men to broil or stew their turkeys, but everyone seemed fully satisfied.” One soldier told him “It isn’t the turkey, but the IDEA that we care for…”
How true that is for those serving. The IDEA that we are not forgotten. Remember that scene in the Vietnam War series “Tour of Duty” where the team had a mission on Thanksgiving when the Huey sat down on the landing pad after the mission, instead of going to their hooch, they were ordered to a debriefing? Grumbling all the way, only to find out that there was a Thanksgiving dinner waiting for them, complete with cranberry sauce.
A similar event happened to my team in Iraq on Christmas Eve, 2004. We were ordered to a debrief only to find out that our Iraqi Colonel had dinner waiting and a special cake made for us delivered from Baghdad. Since we were advisers and lived on an Iraqi Army base, we shared both cultures. The American bases for sure have Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.
While training in Kuwait, I saw Korean and Japanese soldiers in line for the Thanksgiving meal. This was amazing to me since they were enemies during World War II. I guess time heals all. And who would have guessed that our holidays would be celebrated in foreign countries by different cultures. I guess it is the ties that bind.
The unified date for Thanksgiving was signed into law on Dec. 26, 1941, by our 32nd President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Congress. The fourth Thursday was decided to be our Thanksgiving holiday. Please remember those serving in harm’s way on this special day.
Gobble, gobble!
JACK EVENSIZER
Dalton Gardens