For most of us, Thanksgiving marks the start of the holiday season, and is characterized by the joy of family gatherings, holiday parties, and a break in the routine which marks the rest of the year.  

For many military families, however, Thanksgiving can be a time of sadness and depression as family members are separated by military assignments, deployment, or temporary duty at distant locations for training.  Their Thanksgiving meal is often characterized by an empty chair at the table.

Churches, military families, and others can help alleviate this burden by including isolated military personnel in their Thanksgiving dinner plans, and offering thanks for those who are serving us in distant lands.