November 21, 2008 - All holidays give us a special opportunity to spend time with family and friends, but Thanksgiving in many ways is special. While we take time to give thanks for our good fortune, we should also remember those people who bring joy into our lives.
It is impossible, however, to count our blessings this year without thinking about the recent economic uncertainty that has impacted people across the country. While I believe that our economy will bounce back and be stronger in the coming year, it is a difficult time for many right now. I hope that South Dakotans take an opportunity to truly embrace the meaning of Thanksgiving as each of us gather with our friends, family, and loved ones.
That said, Thanksgiving is a reminder that America is uniquely blessed and we do have much for which to be thankful. Because of farmers and ranchers like those in South Dakota, we produce enough food to feed our nation many times over. Due to the patience and dedication of teachers, we have schools in South Dakota that produce great students. Thanks are also in order for our brave troops around the world, and those who have served past and present, for the freedoms we enjoy to celebrate Thanksgiving as a remembrance of all that God has given us.
It can be all too easy to pass over Thanksgiving as just a day off from work with a few football games on television and a weekend devoted to leftover turkey sandwiches. While it may not always be possible to surround yourself with all of your friends and family, Thanksgiving should be a day when we are truly grateful for those in our lives who strengthen us, who make us better, and who make us happy. By thinking about how much friends and family mean to us, we can more easily see the positive difference that we make in the lives of those around us.
I want to wish all South Dakotans and their families a very happy Thanksgiving. As the year draws to a close, I am thankful for my wonderful family and the opportunity to continue serving our state in the Senate. I am excited to embrace the opportunities that lie in the year ahead. Please remember to travel safely.
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