>>Valley Patriot>>
|
It's the Season for Giving Thanks
John Lenotte, Commander American
Legion
 Our holiday season really starts
with Thanksgiving and goes through Christmas (or Hanukah)
and New Year’s. A time to reconnect with old friends
and relatives that perhaps we have not stayed in touch
with over the last year. We are all busy with work,
retirement, school, family, social organizations or
whatever it might be that occupies our time. And maybe we
don’t feel like we have a lot to be thankful for.
But most of us really do. For whatever state of medical
or financial health we are in, there is someone in worse
shape.
The recent explosion in Danvers is one that comes to
mind. Thankfully, no one was injured. And I have a good
story to tell about this incident. The Sunday before
Thanksgiving, our District 8/Essex County Legion raffle
was held. The grand prize, all the fixings for a turkey
dinner, was won by one of the Legion Department (State)
Vice Commanders, Bill Barbour of Auburn. Bill called me
after the explosion news and told me to donate the dinner
to one of the families.
I contacted the Danvers Legion Post 180 adjutant Bruce
Eaton. He tracked down a member who lives in the affected
area, Robert Kujawa. Bob Kujawa is an ROTC instructor at
Lawrence High School. His home had some damage but is
livable. My wife, Elaine, and I met Bob and his daughter
along with Bruce Eaton and Larry McBeth of the Danvers
Post, and Tony Heath of the Hamilton Post. We gave them
the dinner and tossed along the fixings for a second
dinner. Bob and his family prepared a meal for some of
their neighbors who were not as fortunate and had lost
their homes. We were glad to be able to do a small
something for our neighbors in Danvers.
There are many such stories in our own cities and towns
in the Merrimack Valley of neighbors in need. Let’s
do what we can to help them this season. And let us not
forget our troops that are serving our country. Send them
cards, packages and/or emails. Remember them in your
prayers. Whether or not we agree with the current
situation, they are there for us. They are serving OUR
country to defend our freedoms. There are many ways to
connect with them, including www.troopsupportusa.com, a local group out of
Danvers. They can also be reached at 978-774-5983.
Another troop support group is in Wilmington, Mass.,
Local Heroes (www.mass-localheroes.org). They have sent over
2,000 packages out to troops overseas. New England Caring
for our Military, Inc. (www.necfom.com) is a Methuen group that
has sent over 4,000 packages. General information can be
found at www.americasupportsyou.com. The Northeast Outreach
Center in Haverhill serves local veterans who are in need
of shelter as well as counseling.
Remember the axiom: it is much better to give than
receive. This may be hard to swallow given the times we
live in. But it still holds true. Let us help our fellow
brothers and sisters who are in need at this time of
year. And it may not be material items. A call, a letter,
an email … sometimes just listening to those who are
not feeling so great at this time of year. It is, after
all, better to give than receive. And when we give, we
receive a different reward. Bless all this holiday
season.
John Lenotte is the American Legion
Commander, District 8/Essex County and Adjutant, Post 4,
Haverhill
*Send your questions comments to ValleyPatriot@aol.com
The December, 2006
Edition of the Valley Patriot
The Valley Patriot is a Monthly
Publication.
All Contents (C) 2006, Valley Patriot, Inc.
We publish 10,000 newspapers and distribute in Andover,
North Andover,
Methuen, Haverhill, Chelmsford, Georgetown, Groveland,
Boxford,
Lawrence, Dracut, Tewksbury, Hampton & Salisbury
Beach, and Lowell.
|
Valley Patriot Archive
Valley Patriot Story
ARCHIVES
Prior Lead
Stories
Prior
Valley Patriot Editorials
Prior Columns by ...
Tom Duggan
Dr. Chuck
Ormsby
Paula
Porten
Ralph
Wilbur
Hanna
Ted Tripp
Valley
Patriot of the Month
Griselsilva.com
Patrick
Blanchette
D.J.
Beauregard
Jim
Cassidy
D.J. Deeb
Marcos
Devers
Bob
Desmarais
Regina
Faticanti
Jim
Fiorentini
Bill Kelly
Wilfredo
Laboy
Peter
Larocque
Vilma Lora
Ed Maguire
Billy
Manzi
Paul
Murano
Mark
Palermo
Hartley
Pleshaw
Debbie
Quinn
Raise Em
Right
Dr. Peary
Kathleen
Corey Rahme
Barney
Reilly
Angel
Rivera
Jim Rurak
Grisel
Silva
Mike
Sullivan
Sandra
Stotsky
Mike
Sweeney
Ken Willette
Scott Wood
Jim
Xenakis
|