For Thanksgiving Marcia Hoffman’s sixth-grade class at Hawthorne Elementary School in Albert Lea wrote letters on what they are thankful for.

Wednesday, November 21, 2001

For Thanksgiving Marcia Hoffman’s sixth-grade class at Hawthorne Elementary School in Albert Lea wrote letters on what they are thankful for.

I give thanks for:

The food that was so hard to cook from the people all over the world who celebrate this season.

This season is to everyone who makes this season the best in the whole year we have been waiting to happen so we can be a family.

This Thanksgiving everyone should go to their family’s Thanksgiving dinner on the day of thanks.

Thanksgiving isn’t about the big turkey in the middle of the table.

It’s about the way the Indians helped the settlers find food to live.

The settlers were nice to the Indians because they helped them learn the meaning of friendship and thanks.

Ashley Kay Stahowik

First we get ready to go up to my aunt and uncle for Thanksgiving dinner. When we get there the grownups talk and when they talk me and my cousins go play games in the pool room or we go swimming in the pool; it is a hot tub. When the food is ready we get out and eat. After we eat we talk and go home.

Andrew Sabinish

Things that I’m thankful for:

1. Family

2. A home

3. Warm shirts

4. Food

5. Love

6. Teachers

7. School

8. Friends

9. Grandmas and Grandpas

10. The U.S.A.

11. My brother

12. The world

Allison Abrego

I am thankful for the food I get every day. I am thankful for my clothes and the house I live in. I am thankful to have friends that will come over to my house and I am thankful to have my dog. I am thankful for everything I have and own.

Cody Sheetz

I am thankful for:

1. Family

2. Friends

3. Pets

4. Shoes

5. Clothes

6. Teachers

Courtney Carson

Thanksgiving is not about food it’s about family and friends. Of course there is good food but it is a time to be thankful. There are lots of things that you can be thankful for. You can be thankful for your family and friends. Some Thanksgivings you get to meet new people. I like to play games with my family. Thanksgiving is a way to be a good person and help out. I think Thanksgiving is a good holiday for me.

David Johnson

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for my family, my friends, my house, and especially food! I am thankful for my family because, they are always there for me when I need them. I am thankful for my friends, because when I need something to do I always go to them. I am thankful for my house because, it keeps me safe. I am especially thankful for food because if I didn’t eat any I would be small and weak.

Dylan Porter

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, mainly because you eat a lot, but that’s not the whole reason why I like it so much. I like it because you get to celebrate one of the most coveted times of year, a time where you get to be with family. A lot of my relatives come over for Thanksgiving, and I think it’s really cool to see all of them. The same relatives don’t come every year, which is why I like it; I get to see different ones every year. Also, this is the one time of year when you can say that you are truly thankful for everything. That’s why I like Thanksgiving.

Eric Bowron

I thankful to have Thanksgiving because I get to be with my family members that live far away. I am thankful that I have turkey and special things to eat. I like to see my grandma that is in the nursing home and she is not doing very well so she likes to celebrate Thanksgiving with us and to have good food. I am thankful that I am living and get to celebrate the special holidays. We usually always go to Cedar Rapids to go see my cousins that we never see a lot. I am thankful that we have fire fighters, police, and ambulance drivers to save us. We are going to have my grandpa come over on Thanksgiving day. I am happy to have a bed that I can sleep in. I am thankful that I have cool clothes and good food to eat and to live in a house and to have my own room.

Erica Koziolek

What I am thankful for this Thanksgiving, is mainly my family for many reasons. One is that there is no one other than my family that’s always by my side, except, sometimes my friends will be there. Sure sometimes I can get really mad at them, (especially my sister) but they are my family, and sometimes that’s what happens. My other family that isn’t in my household, I am happy to see them when they come down, because they all live in many far different towns and I am not able to see them as much as I would like to.

Another thing that I am thankful for is all of the policemen, the firefighters, and the people that work at hospitals to save other people’s lives. Especially those that are in New York, who really need that help.

Also I am thankful for the shelter that is over my head. And the clothes that I have, the food that I eat, I am thankful for God, and of course Jesus that died on the cross for us. But I am just really thankful for everything that I have!

Hali Hendrickson

Thanksgiving is a time for giving. We can all get together and eat and spend time with family and friends. See people you have never seen before. Get together and have fun together.

Jenna Stene

This is what I am thankful for:

Mom and Dad

Friends

Shelter

Food

Water

My dog

Having policemen

Firemen, especially the ones in New York helping out and the same for policemen

Sister and brother

Having a place to go to school

Clothes

Family

Having a place to sleep

Jessica Sosebee

Thanksgiving is not about the food. It is not about football. It is about family and friends. I do know some families do like football on thanksgiving.

John Jahnssen

I am thankful for my friends, my family, my house, food and clothing, but most of all I am thankful for the day when my family gets together and celebrates Thanksgiving. We celebrate by watching the Thanksgiving Day parade and sitting around the TV and watching football with my dad my uncles and my cousins. My most favorite part about Thanksgiving is Thanksgiving dinner. That’s why I like Thanksgiving.

Jordan De Vries

Thanksgiving is the time of year where families get together, and celebrate the joy of life and its history. Things people vary from person to person, but Thanksgiving really isn’t Thanksgiving without having something to be thankful for. Here are some things I’m thankful for.

1. Family

2. Friends

3. Health

4. Food

5. Freedom

6. Love

7. School

Joshuah Sousa

I have many things that I am thankful for.

1. Mom and Dad

2. Shelter

3. Friends

4. Teachers

5. President

6. Policemen

7. Clothes

8. God and Jesus

9. Family

10. My bed

11. Church

12. Food

13. Water

14. Animals

Karey Dyrdal

I am thankful for many things. Here are some of those things.

1. My family

2. My home

3. Food

4. Clothes

5. Friends

6. Computers

Lacey Williamson

Here are some of the things that I am thankful for:

I am thankful for a good place to stay, good food to eat, and a good education at a wonderful school.

I am thankful for a good family, a good brother, good sisters, and nice parents.

I am thankful for good teachers, good principal, and good friends.

I am thankful that I have good things and good clothes.

Some things I don’t need but, I am thankful for them. These are some of them.

I’m thankful that I have a nice bike, a farm, and places to hunt and fish.

I am thankful that I have a nice car to ride in and a four-wheeler to ride on my farm.

I’m thankful that I get to live in a brand new house on our farm.

I am thankful that I get to play an instrument.

I am thankful that I get to go on trips.

I am thankful for a good church.

This is a lot to be thankful for but it is just some of it. On thanksgiving I am going to share all of this thanks.

Louie Grossman

Thanksgiving:

1. Home

2. Parents

3. Food

4. Family

5. Pets

6. Friends

7. Clothes

8. Shoes

Nicole Grahn

I am thankful to have a wonderful family. My family loves and supports me. I am thankful to have good health. I am thankful that I live in the United States. I am glad that I have a house and food to eat.

Unsigned

I love Thanksgiving because it has things to do with family. My family celebrates Thanksgiving most of the time. I wish we did all the time. I am going to my grandma’s these 2 days off of school. I might also stay there until Sunday. My grandma’s house is very fun. She likes me over there so I can help her with the kids. Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday to share with your family and friends.

Stephanie Calderon

Thanksgiving is a historical and traditional holiday lots of families all over the United States celebrate. It all started between the pilgrims and Indians as a feast to show their progress over the fall harvest. My family always gets together to celebrate because it’s a tradition and it proves in a way we’re proud of our country. Ways you can celebrate Thanksgiving without having to buy a big turkey is write a letter giving greetings to a friend or family member about Thanksgiving, draw a picture of something about this holiday, sing or make up a tune or song, whatever you do make sure you have fun on Thanksgiving Day because it’s a time to celebrate.

Tanya Knudtson

These are some of the things I’m thankful for:

I’m thankful for my family and friends.

I’m thankful that I have a nice house and good neighbors.

I’m thankful that I have a good school to go to.

I’m thankful for the food that we eat.

I’m thankful that I have nice clothes to wear and for the shoes on my feet.

I’m thankful that I am loved.

I’m thankful to have a nice warm bed.

I’m thankful for the day and the night.

I’m thankful that I have a nice church.

I’m thankful for all of the good teachers I have and the ones I’ve already had.

I’m thankful for every thing I have.

I’m thankful that I was born.

I’m thankful for having good friends to play with.

I’m most thankful that I can have such a great life.

Tim Hauge