So many reasons to be thankful*

It's Thanksgiving Day again, a good time to be grateful for being alive and together with family and friends sharing faith, freedom, love, joy, peace, unity and bountiful blessings from God.

I have so much to be thankful for. To God and His only son, Jesus Christ, I give thanks.

I give thanks for my deceased parents and grandparents, and parents-in-law for their love and sacrifices.

I am grateful for my family members and friends, near and far, for their continued love, care and support. Thanks to my former teachers and co-workers and to those educators (especially to my wife Freny, son Andrew and daughter, school counselor Christine) who are inspiring our students to acquire good education and have a brighter future.

I thank Robbie, my son-in-law and loving husband of daughter Christine, for being a part of our family. I thank Charles and Libby, Robbie's parents, for their friendship and love, and for all the fond memories we have shared together with Robbie and Christine.

I thank the farmers for their bountiful harvest, along with all (multi-diverse) professionals for helping make our nation great. I appreciate the government officials and employees and private employees, as well, for all that they do to make America a better place to live.

I appreciate the Suffolk News-Herald and its staff, especially Res Spears for his insights and professional expertise. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors and pray that God will bless him and his family always. And I wish incoming editor Tracy Agnew the best in her new position. Thanks, likewise, to all of our readers.

During my first Thanksgiving in the United States more than three decades ago, I was blessed to have my sister Betty and her retired U.S. Navy veteran husband Dennis to help me find my way.

Until that Thanksgiving Day in California, 34 years ago, I had never seen such a huge turkey!

I am thankful for sister Betty and brother-in-law Dennis, to whom my family will be forever grateful for their love and care, kindness, understanding and generosity.

As an older sibling who filled in the roles of being a mom and a big sister, Betty did an amazing job of helping us, her younger siblings, get settled here. She made sure we were taken care of until we were able to stand on our own feet.

Likewise, I am grateful for my 92-year old Aunt Emiliana in California, my late father's only sister. Strong and determined, she can still manage to drive alone to visit my sisters and relatives in San Jose.

On behalf of my family and friends, I thank our police officers for making our community safe and orderly. To our city officials and employees, and all of our military veterans (active, retired, injured and fallen), thank you for your service and professionalism.

[To my social media friends, thank you. And, finally, I thank Simba, my two-year old Chorkie (Chihuahua-Yorkie mixed breed dog), for keeping me company at home. Thank you, little buddy.]

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! God bless us always, and God bless America!

-Chris A. Quilpa, a retired U.S. Navy veteran, lives in Suffolk. Email him at chris.a.quilpa@gmail.com.

*Appeared in the Opinion page of the award-winning Suffolk News-Herald, Thursday, November 23, 2017. For more information, visit www.suffolknewsherald.com.