A 'thank you' is free Published Nov. 3, 2009 By Col. Stephen N. Whiting 21st Space Wing commander PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- As we enter the month of November, now is a good time to reflect on the quintessential American holiday of Thanksgiving. On this day, the entire nation pauses to offer thanks for the great blessings we have been given collectively and as individuals. Thanksgiving reflects an "attitude of gratitude" that reaches back to the very founding of the Republic. And, interestingly, the history of this great holiday is closely tied to the American military and our country's great wars. As early as 1565, Spanish settlers to the New World held a Mass of Thanksgiving to commemorate their safe travel to what is now St. Augustine, Fla. In 1621, the foundations of our modern Thanksgiving tradition were laid when English settlers at Plymouth Plantation joined with Native Americans from the Wampanoag tribe to celebrate a harvest festival and offer thanks to the almighty. This tradition would continue for the next century and a half among the various colonies until the time of the American Revolution. In 1777, after the Continental Army had been in the field fighting the British for two years, in what was a bleak time for the Revolution, the Continental Congress approved the first national proclamation of Thanksgiving. This proclamation, among other things, thanked providence for, "smil[ing] upon us in the Prosecution of a just and necessary War, for the Defense and Establishment of our unalienable Rights and Liberties; particularly in that he hath been pleased, in so great a Measure, to prosper the Means used for the Support of our Troops, and to crown our Arms with most signal success..." Later, after American Independence had been secured, President George Washington issued a proclamation declaring the first Thanksgiving Day so designated by the newly independent United States of America. Succeeding presidents would continue this tradition intermittently in the following years. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln, during the height of the Civil War, proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving to fall upon the last Thursday in November. In this proclamation, he stated, "In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity...I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union." While subsequent presidents would follow Lincoln's example and annually designate a national Day of Thanksgiving, it was not until Dec. 26, 1941, only 19 days after the United States entered World War II, that a law was passed designating the fourth Thursday of November as the national holiday of Thanksgiving. Again, the tradition of Thanksgiving was closely tied to the military history of the nation. Today, Thanksgiving reminds all of us, no matter what our religious beliefs, that we are truly blessed to be citizens of this great country, and to serve in our nation's armed forces. As Airmen, we share a bond of voluntary service that ensures the nation is always prepared, always vigilant, and always defended in the air, in space, and in cyberspace. The excellence of this service ensures our potential adversaries are deterred, our allies are assured, our sister services are supported, and our actual enemies are defeated. The holiday of Thanksgiving also reminds me personally of a fundamental leadership lesson I have learned during my career. Namely, a "thank you" is free and should be used frequently. None of us are solely responsible for the successes we have enjoyed in our units or even individually. In our units, our careers, and in our personal lives, there are numerous people who have supported our common mission and have supported us as individuals, often selflessly. Some of these people, like spouses, friends, and coworkers, are easily identifiable. Others, however, are not as readily recognizable. But, as leaders, it's our job to track these people down and thank them. Let them know how much we value their contributions, and how much of a difference they make each and every day. As the Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. Norton Schwartz, reminds us, each and every Airmen is equally valuable to our common mission. Happy Thanksgiving to each of you, and thank you for what you do to "provide for the common defense."