Thanksgiving

It's late the night before Thanksgiving. Actually it's very early in the morning, and I am wanting to thank those who protect us. Of course when most people think of being thankful for security they think of those in our armed forces. And so they should. At heart I am somewhat of a pacifist. A former nickname of mine was "peacefreak." I have never been able to handle the thought of shooting someone. So I am thankful for those who "stand on the wall." But I am thinking of the men and women who stay here in our communities and neighborhoods who are protecting us.

There are those in our own hometowns who have died while trying to protect us. There are those who God will call home while in service to us, protecting us from fire. The men and women of the fire service are willing to give their lives, never asking us our creed, never checking our political relations, not once wondering what our faith may be. I am thankful.

There are those in our Main streets, Church Streets, your streets that you can call at any time, any day and they will come to your aid. They won't run away if you don't agree with their beliefs. To quote an overused phrase, they will run in. They will run in when someone isn't breathing. They will run in when someone's child has fallen. They will run in to save neighbors they don't know. They will run in. They will do their best everytime. They will do.

So it's to them, those who decide to serve their friends, neighbors and families by fighting the dragons here at home that I want to say "Thank you."