Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1942-11-26


for national observance it has
carried with it some semblance
Of deeply religious gratitude for
the blessings bestowed on us
Individually and as a nation.
Thanksgiving Day, 1912,
brings with II more than an~op-
portunity to reflect ON the good
things of life enjoyed so album
dainty in America.
Let Us It brings an oppor-
Give tunity to rejoice at
Thanks the turn Of events
in the world war.
This year Thanksgiving follows
closely on the announcements of
news events which portend the
final chapters in the war. It
gives us abundant reason for be-
ing appreciative of the past and
hopeful of the future. In many
ways. even with the country in
the midst of its greatest effort
to maintain our democratic way
Of living, we have more to be
J thankful for in 1912 than in
wears Of peace. This year a
,reat many American families
in have vacant places at the
thanksgiving dinner table.
ose places represent men in
NJ armed services. Lets be
thankful that by far the greater
number of those who would oc-
cupy these places are still in the
pink of health. A very small
percentage represent casualties.
That this percentage win re-
main very small is a hopeful
thought for this Thanksgiving
Day.
And while we are contemplate
ing the significance of Thanks
giving it seems logical and reas-
enable to ponder the question of
why are we at war? That ques-
ton covers our entire war effort.
And If we give few moments
of serious thought to an answer
we win find other reasons for
being thankful. The number of
answers which might be arrived
at can we'll be summed up in
one answer. That answer is
that we are in this
Complete war to complete
A World world task left un-
Task finished in 1918
and 1919 and which
must be finally cleared up for
the benefit of those yet unborn
generations who viii bless us for
having left a better world for
them to live in. We are fight
ing this war because in its de-
termination rests the future Sc
curity of our own lives and the
lives of our children. We are
fighting because we believe COM
pletely and absolutely in the
things which we accept as good
americans and because we re-
fuse to accept any doctrine fore
ign to our beliefs. In short, we
are in this war because we want
peace. Not the kind of peace
which is merely to be let alone
so long as We hop, skip and jump
at the word Of a dictator but the
kind Of peace which win let us
60 along our own paths of life
undisturbed by spies and snoop-
ers and official whims. We are
In this war to fight it to def
mite finish. A finish which will
spell the end of war and last
ing peace.
Other nations find It difficult
to accept our unselfish purposes
in putting ourselves in an all
out war with no territorial de-
signs. They cannot understand
our expressed desire to see to It
that conquered apd oppressed
peoples shall have the right to
live as they want to live so long
as they will let other nations en-
joy the same privilege. They
have been so accustomed to be
prepared for war with a neighbor
that II seems uncomfortable TO
live peacefully with no danger
Of war lowering over them. But
that il our aim in this war and,
whether or not it seems selfish,
il's early termination in our fav-
a. win prove that The most UNI
Iash purpose oftlmes proves