Chow Hall Thanksgiving
"For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
We had a normal Thanksgiving this year, surrounded by friends and family, over the river and through the woods at Grandpa's house, eating for hours on end and spending the time reminiscing about days gone by. The holidays haven't always been like this, we have had some different types of Thanksgivings over our 17 years with the military.
At Chow Halls or Mess Halls, also known as dining facilities, around the world, elaborate meals are set up so that Soldiers and their families can eat the Thanksgiving Feast together. It is tradition for the Officers of the community to take turns serving the Soldiers and their families, as a way of celebrating unity, over the Thanksgiving Holiday. The officers wear their finest blues and don dining hall hats, greeting their troops and families with spoon and spatula in hand. On the tables are printed brochures with the letters of Thanksgiving that were written by all of the highest ranking Officers of each Branch. These letters are lead off by one from the Commander in Chief, the President. We have spent Thanksgivings all over the world, in South Korea and Germany, as well as North Carolina and Virgina reading those letters and saying thanks for the fellowship of our military family. It was one day we could come together, smile at each other's families, break bread and be a part of something other than military business.
For two years, Thanksgiving was spent with wives and children and absent of our Soldier's. In an effort to muster some normalcy, several wives got together, having separated the cooking tasks and we celebrated in my house. There was still a Chow Hall Thanksgiving, there were still Command Letters of Thanks, they were just somewhere else with our loved ones so far away. Those Thanksgivings were different and memorable, but mostly because we wanted to survive them, not because we were celebrating. When it was all said and done, we gave the children their Thanksgiving meal, and we came together to say our thanks, but we were only marking time until the family was back in one piece.
This Thanksgiving, as I bowed my head in thanks, I said a little prayer for the many faces that have smiled across the table at me all these years. I raised a prayer for those apart, for those mom's holding it all together, those Soldiers so very far from home. I pray they will have many years ahead of them to reminisce and remember these days.
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
We had a normal Thanksgiving this year, surrounded by friends and family, over the river and through the woods at Grandpa's house, eating for hours on end and spending the time reminiscing about days gone by. The holidays haven't always been like this, we have had some different types of Thanksgivings over our 17 years with the military.
At Chow Halls or Mess Halls, also known as dining facilities, around the world, elaborate meals are set up so that Soldiers and their families can eat the Thanksgiving Feast together. It is tradition for the Officers of the community to take turns serving the Soldiers and their families, as a way of celebrating unity, over the Thanksgiving Holiday. The officers wear their finest blues and don dining hall hats, greeting their troops and families with spoon and spatula in hand. On the tables are printed brochures with the letters of Thanksgiving that were written by all of the highest ranking Officers of each Branch. These letters are lead off by one from the Commander in Chief, the President. We have spent Thanksgivings all over the world, in South Korea and Germany, as well as North Carolina and Virgina reading those letters and saying thanks for the fellowship of our military family. It was one day we could come together, smile at each other's families, break bread and be a part of something other than military business.
For two years, Thanksgiving was spent with wives and children and absent of our Soldier's. In an effort to muster some normalcy, several wives got together, having separated the cooking tasks and we celebrated in my house. There was still a Chow Hall Thanksgiving, there were still Command Letters of Thanks, they were just somewhere else with our loved ones so far away. Those Thanksgivings were different and memorable, but mostly because we wanted to survive them, not because we were celebrating. When it was all said and done, we gave the children their Thanksgiving meal, and we came together to say our thanks, but we were only marking time until the family was back in one piece.
This Thanksgiving, as I bowed my head in thanks, I said a little prayer for the many faces that have smiled across the table at me all these years. I raised a prayer for those apart, for those mom's holding it all together, those Soldiers so very far from home. I pray they will have many years ahead of them to reminisce and remember these days.
We do take so much for granted, I know it was a joy to have mine all home but it hurt to know there were so many that weren't home with their families. You make me feel what families must feel when you share your life. Lu
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Pam, As always, you hit the nail so succintly on the head. I too remember those many different Thanksgivings, the chow halls, the years apart from my other half, your house in Germany and mine. This year was wonderful, we had tons to be thankful for. We were surrounded by wonderful friends, old Army friends, now all retired and living their "civilian" lives here in beautiful Central Texas. We took pictures of the guys to send to their old Squadron CSM so he could see their beards and their bellies and most of all that they are happy and healthy. There was much laughter and silliness. We were thankful to be together and have so much food and friendship. And, we were thankful for those that are now standing in harms way and serving all over the globe, carrying on the torch for us "old retirees" so that we can continue to share our holidays and everydays together. And last but definitely not least, much love to you and yours. We may not have been in the same state but we were together in heart and soul. Happy Thanksgiving, Ellen
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