'We have much to be thankful
for....'
Feature By Marie Monyak
November 24, 2005
Thursday
Ketchikan, Alaska - Today is Thanksgiving.
Ketchikan's high winds and heavy rains can't dampen the spirits
of Ketchikanites on this annual holiday - for there is much to
be thankful for on this day and everyday.
President Bush on Tuesday said,
"Thanksgiving is a holiday rooted in the American spirit
of gratitude and sharing. We see this spirit in America today.
... We also give thanks on Thanksgiving for our many blessings,
and we thank those who are far away from home who protect our
freedoms. It's through the courage and skill of our Armed Forces
that we're safe as a nation, and we're very proud of their service."
Thanksgiving is a day that
brings into focus our many blessings and also ushers in the "official"
start of the Christmas season in our modern day world. And in
Ketchikan as people celebrate this special holiday with family
and friends focusing on their many blessings, a few people of
Ketchikan shared their thoughts about what they are thankful
for on this day.
|
| Greg Wilks,
president of the Ketchikan Harley Riders Association, moved to
Ketchikan in 1980 and has been here on and off for the past 25
years. He says he is thankful that he is still alive. |
|
| Carrie
Fredrick moved to Ketchikan earlier this year from Anchorage.
She is thankful for her family, children, fiancé and her
job. |
|
|
| Charlie
Miller, A & P's "Meat Man", is thankful for his
good health. Posing next to his delicious roasted turkeys, he's
also thankful for a little free advertising. |
|
| Chris Brewton
came to Ketchikan from Georgia two years ago and doesn't like
our rain...yet. Thankfully, that day may come. As Ports
and Harbor director he is thankful for good employees that make
a great team. |
|
|
| Jessie
Kvale is thankful that his parents are coming down from Wrangell
for Thanksgiving and that his kids and sister are all in good
health. As an afterthought he added that he is also thankful
that King salmon fishing was good this past summer! |
|
| Jane Hanchett,
a proud mother, is thankful for her healthy family and that her
two children are maintaining their college scholarships and that
they have their cousins to visit for Thanksgiving. |
|
|
| Kaylin
Haywood just turned 10 years old. She was born in Anchorage and
came to Ketchikan by way of Metlakatla. She is thankful for her
family and her dog, Nala. |
|
| Gigi Lastimosa,
an 8th grader, is thankful that her mom is doing her best for
her and her two sisters. |
|
|
| Bonnie
Lynch was retired and living in Seattle when she heard that
our Salvation Army needed help. She packed up and moved
here to join in. She is thankful for God's goodness of
joy and laughter and for her health. |
|
| Mickie
Turner, the VFW's very own bartender for the past 4 years, is
thankful for her family and friends. |
|
Marie Monyak is a freelance
writer and
photographer living in Ketchikan, Alaska.
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