Giving Thanks

As the temperatures cool down and the heaters turn up, the holiday season is here once again as Thanksgiving kicks off its unofficial start.

But before dusk sweeps across the nighttime sky and we take to the stores with the frantic hope of becoming one of the lucky ones to secure the newest technology at a heavily discounted price on Black Friday, let’s take into consideration what the Thanksgiving holiday is really all about.

Whether its the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, family coming from near and far to spend the day together, the endless supply of food that will make for hearty leftovers until December, or the all-day football marathon that has been a part of the tradition since 1934, there is an abundance of reasons to be excited about Thanksgiving.

The Boulder City Review took to the streets to ask people around town what Thanksgiving meant to them, as well as the things they were thankful for this holiday season.

Tami McKay, Boulder City deputy city clerk

“I’m most thankful for my kids, my mom and dad and that we are all healthy. I’m thankful for my friends. I am surrounded by the most amazing friends who are always there to support me. And I’m very, very thankful for my job and for living in Boulder City.”

Bea Wallace, Las Vegas resident enjoying her day at Bicentennial Park

“I’m thankful for this gorgeous day. All that God has given us. I have a very big family. They live all over the country. They live in Pennsylvania, in Utah, and I have a sister who lives here who has eight children. To me, Thanksgiving means family.”

Ron Salisbury, Littleton, Colo., resident walking through the downtown district

“I’m most thankful for freedom. And I love turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy. I’m also thankful for good health, and the ability to travel around the country and see new things.”

Linda Hiwa, Boulder City/Hoover Dam Museum employee

“I’m most thankful for God and then my family. I’m grateful for the city I live in and the warmth that it gives. I’m grateful for the freedoms that we have.”

As a lover of history, Hiwa said she also appreciates the tradition behind the holiday.

“They had the original Thanksgiving dinner in thanks for the Indians who helped them (Pilgrims) grow the vegetables, for the fact that they did not die through the winter. They had each other, which is what Thanksgiving is for. Your survived to that point, you had food to eat, you had a roof over your head, and people to love.”

Everynn Andrade, fourth-grade student at Grace Christian Academy

“It means family and friends get to spend time together and say the things that we’re thankful for. We just get to be close; we all get to bond. I’m mostly thankful for my family, my friends and everyone who supports me in everything I do. And I’m thankful for God.”

Contact reporter Steven Slivka at sslivka@bouldercityreview.com or at 702-586-9401. Follow @StevenSlivka on Twitter.