Thankful

First graders at Brinson Memorial Elementary School were thankful for their families, God, their country, food and other essentials of life as they counted their blessings on Tuesday before sitting down for a Thanksgiving feast in their school gymnasium.

The students dressed as pilgrims and as American Indians in honor of the first Thanksgiving, wearing hats, collars and vests made of colorful paper. They sat down beside multi-colored strips of paper on the floor for the feast of turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie and corn, and then played games such as “pin the feather on the turkey.”

Parents and teachers organized the feast to give students who won’t be celebrating the holiday a chance to eat some of the festive foods, and also to bring all of the different classes together.

Katie Hiligan, a first grade teacher who helped organize the event, said that earlier in the day the students read stories about the first Thanksgiving, and learned about the Mayflower.

“I think the value of it is, they’re learning about our history,” said Terri Hinson, a parent who was on the committee to organize the event. “It’s almost a visual of what they did in those days.”

She added that her son Blake was so excited about the feast that he “jumped out of bed as fast as he could” that morning.

“He was excited about it, as first graders are excited about everything they do,” she said.

Several first graders shared what they are thankful for this year before they ate and played games.

Blake Hinson said he was thankful for family, food and God.

Jacob Harrelson said he was thankful for turkey and food “because if I didn’t have food, I would die,” he said.

Jade Mitchell was thankful for her friends “because I want to play with them and I want to make lots of friends,” she said.

The first grader was also thankful for teachers.

“Because they’re nice,” she said.

Marlee Hanford said she is thankful for her family.

“Because my family’s nice to me,” she said.

Marlee also said she is thankful for her teachers.

“They teach a lot to us,” she said. “They teach us to do manners.”

Taigen Boyd said she is thankful for her cousins.

“Because they’re nice,” she said.

Dylan Daughtridge said he is thankful for God “because he helps us live,” he said.

The first grader said he is also thankful for his country, and for his family.

“Because they care for me,” he said.

Connor Senn said he is thankful for trees, “because they give us oxygen to live,” for the rain, “so we have enough water to live,” and for the ocean, “so we can learn about stuff.”

The first grader said he is also thankful for his family.

“Because they spend time with me all the time,” he said.

Treichelle Smith said she is thankful for her mom and her dad who take care of her, and for Christmas.

“Because we get presents,” she said.

Kirsten Monk said she’s thankful for her mom, and for God, who “helps protect us” and because “if you get lost, he helps you find your mom.”

Laura Oleniacz can be reached at 252-635-5675 or at loleniacz@freedomenc.com.