PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19^TH HOLE: This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon, as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.

This is a good day to take a respite from such issues as the impeachment process in Washington, D.C. – or other news with negative implications — and reflect on day when we should focus on being thankful.

For me, a good way to do this is to reprint here a piece by James Freeman that appeared in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) this morning. He chronicled stories of Americans volunteering at home and serving abroad in what he wrote should be a “day of thanks and charity.”

Here is Freeman’s column.

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Brad Harris and Celedonia Hunt at the annual Thanksgiving food distribution at the Salvation Army Corps Community Center in Pottsville, Pa. on Monday. Photo: Jacqueline Dormer/Associated Press

It’s the season for counting blessings, and one naturally thinks of the enormous sacrifices made on our behalf by Americans overseas. It’s also inspiring to see simple acts of charity occurring at home.

Dave Sutor reporrts in Johnstown, Pennsylvania’s Tribune-Democrat:

Two hundred guests came together to share a meal, camaraderie and holiday cheer during the Salvation Army’s Thanksgiving dinner on Tuesday.

Individuals in need of something to eat or just looking to spend time with some folks were welcomed, no questions asked… Roberta Kear, a military widow who recently moved to the area, spent time preparing plates of food in the kitchen.

This was her first year helping out at the dinner.

“My daughter is going to her boyfriend’s for Thanksgiving, so I thought I’d give my hand at volunteering,” Kear said. “I’m really enjoying myself.”

Similar events are taking place across the land. In Sherman, Texas, Michael Hutchins reports for the Herald Democrat that volunteers in the annual Bob Skaggs Memorial Food Drive are hoping to beat last year’s total by collecting 50 tons of donations.

The effort is named for a longtime participant “who would often save his vacation time in order to volunteer at the annual fundraiser.” Hutchins adds: “Major Tex Ellis with the Salvation Army of Grayson County said the food raised last year helped stock the organization’s food pantry for nearly a full year. This equated to nearly 20,000 meals and food gifts for nearly 9,000 families.”

This week Thanksgiving meals for the elderly will be delivered via a Meals on Wheels program. For readers in the area along the Red River known as “Texoma,” Hutchins has news you can use:

Ellis said the Salvation Army just got the final turkeys it needed for the meal, but is still in need of deserts, bread and most importantly volunteers to help prepare the food.

Meanwhile Jenny Berg reports in Minnesota’s St. Cloud Times that no registration is required and all will be welcome at a Thursday noon feast at the St. Cloud Salvation Army building. Berg reports that Kathy Finlayson has been helping prepare the Thanksgiving meal for about a decade and her husband volunteers to pour the coffee. Berg reports:

… When asked if the sweet potatoes will be adorned with brown sugar and marshmallows, Finlayson replied, “Oh yeah, we’re going to do it up right.”

… In addition to donations of ice cream and pumpkin pies from area businesses, the shelter received enough turkeys just in the nick of time.

“We had two turkeys about a week ago. We put a message on Facebook and now we’ve got 16,” Salvation Army Major Mike Parker said. “So we have plenty of turkeys for Thanksgiving.”

Plenty more will be needed further west. A staff report in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser notes:

The Salvation Army will be providing about 5,000 Thanksgiving meals through annual meal events at locations statewide, including the 49th annual Thanksgiving Meal at Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall in Honolulu for approximately 2,000 guests.

Back in Minnesota, Colleen Harrison reports in the Albert Lea Tribune on two friends who began volunteering through their church and have become Salvation Army regulars. Marilyn Zimmerman and Grace Bos, both of Hollandale, show up each week to help with food preparation, service and clean-up. Harrison reports:

“It’s nice to see the regulars at Thanksgiving,” Bos said… “We’ve been so blessed to be able to give back and help somebody. After all, we’re supposed to love one another.”

Speaking this week to another Army—and also to members of the Navy, Air Force, and Marines—Vice President Mike Pence told assembled U.S. troops at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq:

In gatherings large and small all across the country, I know there’ll be a place saved at Thanksgiving tables for each and every one of you. But I also know that millions of Americans, when they pause to reflect on what they’re thankful for, they’re going to breathe a prayer of thanksgiving for each and every one of you and all of the men and women of the Armed Forces of the United States deployed around the world. I promise you that.

The American people know that while you come from the rest of us, you’re the best of us. You volunteered to serve. And every American is proud of you and more thankful for your service than you’ll ever know.

… some people spend their entire lives wondering if they’ve made a difference. But you’ll never have that problem.

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So, using this reprint as a prod, I hope you spend your day being thankful – and that this day spurs you to think of Thanksgiving every day.

Further, as the WSJ piece by James Freeman reminds us, be thankful today, but remember and act on behalf of those who have special needs, such as clothing, shelter and friendship.