Columnist

During this holiday season, much gets written about the meaning of Thanksgiving. Unlike other holidays, this is one of our last cultural traditions that has not been over-marketed or eliminated due to political correctness.

The story of the Pilgrims and their helpful Native American neighbors is more than a story in the history books. It is not a day to celebrate independence like July 4th. It is not a day to be symbolically altered such as with the birth of Jesus and the arrival of Santa Claus. It is a day steeped in historical significance of prayerful thankfulness.

Recently I began thinking less of the feast and the fact they were thankful, and more to the fact that they were giving thanks. Thanks n giving. It all is so easy to forget to count our blessings It is so much easier to begin expecting and wanting more, versus being thankful with what we have.

This is a day to be gripeless. This is a day to have an attitude of gratitude and to give thanks for what we have. So how can we truly give thanks? Perhaps it is less a matter of saying “thanks,” and more of showing it.

While, thankfully, many of us did not have to survive the difficult times of our ancestors, all of us can be thankful for the work of others.

A brightening event

After seeing it lit up at Christmas for so many years, the loss of the giant Sequoia on the east end of Philomath was a tragedy for some people. Others saw it as a chance to do something for others.

At 7 p.m. on Nov. 29, thanks to the work of the Philomath Chamber of Commerce and friends, the return of a replacement tree begins.

Although an actual tree will not be planted until sometime next year, the community of Philomath will hold a Christmas tree lighting at the future site of the future tree on the lawn of the Benton County Historical Museum.

If all goes as planned, this will be one community party not to miss. Over the recent weeks, an unexpected development of this lighting event is that many of the churches in Philomath have decided to get together and create a community choir to celebrate the season, the lighting of this tree and the start of a new tradition that has potential to delight generations to come. The effort taken to find a replacement tree is a show of thanks for the community of Philomath.

Seeing a tree lit during the dark nights of the holiday season will once again cheer us during our drives through town.

Tribe fund aids safety

A drive by the intersection of Highway 223 and Maxfield Circle in Kings Valley highlights yet another reason to be thankful for the work of others.

Thanks to a grant for just under $10,000 from the Siletz Tribe Charitable Contribution Fund, the Kings Valley Area Association (KiVAA) is setting about completing a new community center parking area. It would provide up to 20 spaces and fencing to keep people and children safe along Highway 223.

The removal of the brush, the leveling of the land and the spreading of crushed gravel all attest to the fact that the landscaping plans that have been developed over the last few years to beautify the Kings Valley Community Center are well underway. A side benefit to this “remodeling” is that it also will allow foot traffic from the Kings Valley Charter School to more safely cross via an “official” crosswalk across Highway 223 and onto the Community Center grounds.

In the words of former KiVAA president, Pat Malone: “The people of Kings Valley would like to express our appreciation to the Siletz tribe for having provided us with the opportunity to ‘help us, help ourselves,’ preserve our unique heritage and keep our children safe.”

A final note

Apparently the Thanksgiving story continues. Apparently being thankful is most evident through the act of giving.

Dan Hayes reports on news in the Hoskins-Kings Valley community and can be reached at 929-2356 or travelor54@peak.org.