Press Editorial: Much to be thankful for

Talk about it

There are many challenges facing our country this year: The economy, double digit unemployment, flu outbreaks and two wars. Still this is the week we annually take pause to remember all the many blessings we enjoy. This past year we elected local and national representatives, we should always remember to be thankful and grateful that there are those people who put service above self to help run our municipality, state and country. Thankful for the process even if our candidate isn’t elected, because more importantly we are thankful we live in a country where there will always be another election and we are free to openly state our opinion in the interim. Things we take for granted but are defended every moment by members of our all volunteer armed forces.

Topping the list locally is how miraculously there were no casualties from the July tornado that smashed the southside of Dickinson. The immediate emergency response by police, fire departments and emergency services was incredible. Not any less miraculous was the response of our community to folks hit hard by the storm. Hundreds went to work cleaning up and repairing the damage, whether they were neighbors or stranger it didn’t seem to matter.

The tornado wasn’t the only weather challenge facing our area last year. Near-record snows made life difficult for all of us, and through the winter that seemed to have no end, countless neighbors shoveled out their neighbors.

Our news pages are filled with countless stories of our community responding to the needs of others. The Dickinson Community Thanksgiving Dinner Committee is a prime example of just that. Last year the committee served and delivered more than 500 meals to folks who, for whatever reason, couldn’t prepare their own meal or needed social interaction.

Congratulations to the committee and the volunteers who help out. We have a lot to be thankful here in Dickinson, and Southwest North Dakota.

The Press would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving and encourage all of us to count our blessings and to support those agencies this holiday season that help those less fortunate than ourselves.

— The Press Editorial Board meets weekly to discuss issues of importance to the community.

Tags: opinion, editorial, thanksgiving, tornado