A Special Thanksgiving
MORGAN MILL, Texas — Soldiers dealing with the tragedy at Fort Hood and multiple trips to war found the perfect antidote Friday.
You could hear it in their squeals and laughter as they got to be kids again in the tiny town of Morgan Mill, where folks wanted soldiers to at least feel like they had a Thanksgiving at home.
All the stress of war. The heartache from the massacre of helpless colleagues.
The loneliness of separation from Kentucky, Minnesota, New York or Georgia.
It all disappeared on the playground of the old Morgan Mill school in Erath County.
Specialist Claudia Lane raced up and down the basketball court with 5th and 6th graders, stopping just long enough to answer one quick question: When is the last time you got to play with kids like this?
"Whew! It's been a while," she panted; then she raced for the basket.
Private Timothy Conzachi spun a carousel packed with woozy soldiers and kids.
"In Afghanistan, we got to see a lot of kids, but really didn't get to play with them like this," he said.
Conzachi is from Nevada, but Fort Hood is home for now.
"That shooting. It hit close to home," he said. " It was in our home. Having a Thanksgiving like this touches the heart."
Morgan Mill has celebrated community Thanksgiving in its Depression-era rock gym for about 15 years. People come from all over the county. It's mainly cowboys, and the kids, parents and grandparents of cowboys.
Three years ago they started inviting soldiers. Superintendent Dean Edwards drove one of two school buses to Killeen before dawn. They brought back 70 soldiers, who had no idea what to expect.
Turkey roasters and tables piled with desserts lined the rock walls. Dinner tables decorated with school kid crafts covered the gym floor beneath wood rafters. Townspeople moved from soldier to soldier.
"We'll be praying for you, whatever happens," said one woman, draping an arm over a sergeant. "We think of you all the time."
Edwards said he wanted his students to feel connected to their country, and learn lessons they can't get in a classroom. They soaked in the simplicity of it.
It doesn't take much to make a difference to someone who hasn't been home for Thanksgiving in five years,
"Korea once. Iraq twice. Last time I didn't have the money to go home," said Spc. Daniel Smith, diving into a slice of buttermilk pie.
In the afternoon, the soldiers climbed back on the yellow buses and headed back to their military world, just a little closer now to this one.
Don't be surprised if even more show up in Morgan Mill next year.
E-mail jdouglas@wfaa.com
