Readers thankful for much

It’s Thanksgiving Day in the melting pot of America and here in our own little melting pot of Prince William County, we evidently have plenty for which to be thankful.

Readers from Brentsville to Dumfries, from Manassas to Dale City and from Manassas Park to Occoquan have people for whom they are thankful and have written to the Potomac News and Manassas Journal Messenger about them.

Inside today’s paper you will find a special section called Giving Thanks. The cover itself is a sort of melting pot of “thank yous.” There you’ll find “thanks” in 45 languages and on the inside you’ll find more than 150 thank you notes to local people who have helped others.

It is surely good news to know that so many citizens in this area give of themselves throughout the year.

Mothers seem to be very important this Thanksgiving. Among the many messages to moms are those from Mark Johnson, David Mathews and Lorraine Busey. These three folks were too late to get their notes in the special section but not too late to serve as good examples for what you’ll find there.

Mark wrote: I’d like to give a special thanks to my mother. She is once again helping us out with our three children during the school year, and has actually moved from her residence in Waynesboro to live with us until the school year is out I know this has not been easy for her So, to my mom, Frances Johnson, I give a special thanks this Thanksgiving!

David said: I am thankful for my mom in Manassas. She helped me when my defibrillator went off and she is always there for me.

Lorraine wrote: I am thankful for my mother, Sandra Busey, of Centreville. She has loved me unconditionally, even when I didn’t always love myself. She has always been my biggest supporter, my closest confidante, and my staunch protector. She is my very best friend.

Thanksgiving Day must be Grandparents’ Day, too, because Ryan and Sarah Titus of Manassas emailed us to give thanks for theirs.

Ryan “wrote” through his mother Christine: My baby sister and I are thankful for Oma and Opa … My Oma takes care of us while Mommy and Daddy have to go to work and every other Monday, our Opa … spends time with us, too … we play games, go for walks in the woods down by the river, play with Playdough, puzzles and even bugs … Mommy and Daddy say that we all are very lucky to have our Oma and Opa because they love us so much …

Area schools give us reasons to be thankful, too.

Rae Darlington of Triangle: I am thankful for the awesome teachers and staff of Graham Park Middle School for five years of support, creative talents and hard work to fulfill our mission of being a TLC (Teaching, Learning and Caring) School, obtaining full accreditation status, and helping our students reach their fullest potential. You all make GPMS a great place to be!

And out in Gainesville, an entire class at Tyler Elementary School has offered its thanks on this day. Mrs. Bowles’ fourth graders didn’t make the special section deadline either, but how could such an effort be ignored? It’s pretty clear that family is important to these youngsters. Here are the grateful thoughts of Mrs. Bowles’ students:

From Caitlyn C.: I am thankful for my mom, Valerie Cuilik, of Gainesville, Va. She helps me with my homework. She also tucks me in at night. She buys me neat clothes. She also takes me out to dinner

From Lindsey Nicole Thomas: I am thankful for my family, the Thomases of Gainesville and Warrenton. They help me on my homework. They love me if I break my arm. They make sure I am healthy. I’m also thankful for my friends. Also, for all the good food we’re having on Thanksgiving. I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday. I am thankful for everything I have.

From Kristine Plata: I am thankful for my parents, Mary Lou and Donald Plata of Gainesville They are special to me in many ways: They take care of me, they provide food and clothing, and they help me in all sorts of stuff. They also play games with me, which is fun. Both of them always tell me what is right and what is wrong. Sometimes they yell at me but they are just warning me not to do things so when I get older I will be a better person. The main reason I am thankful for them is because I love them.

From Michelle Bui: I am thankful for my cousin, Cynthia of Springfield, Va. My cousin Cynthia always helps me calm down when I am upset. She also helps me with my drawing, and she like to do craft projects with me. She is the best cousin ever.

From Rachael Ashley McMinn: I am thankful for my family, the McMinns of Gainesville and Toms Brook, Va. I am thankful for all the little things that I take for granted. I also am very thankful for my mom, dad, and brother. I am thankful for Thanksgiving, and having a feast with my family. I also am thankful for seeing my family on Thanksgiving, when I cannot see them all the time. I am very thankful for my pets

From Mrs. Jamie Bowles: I am thankful for my fourth grade class at Tyler Elementary. They would say I teach them, but they show me something new every day. Each one is different; each one is unique. I am thankful to be their teacher and their student.

Please pull out the special Giving Thanks section today and consider it a Happy Thanksgiving wish from your local newspapers.