One thing Chris is thankful for: Family

Family tradition: We go to the beach

Thanksgiving in the military: Had Thanksgiving in Iraq in 2011, all the chow halls were closed because the US was leaving. So we raided the supply conex for MREs and started a bonfire in the living area.

What I'm thankful for:
for TCN and for the Unite for Veterans Coalition, both the people I work with every day and the members of each group. Being surrounded by so many Americans who love this country and are willing to defend it is inspiring. I'm grateful every day that I get to do this work.

What are you thankful for this year:

"My family, the laughter of my children and the support of my partner, co-parent and nanny in raising those children. Vegetarian turkey. A country worth fighting for."

While on active duty in the Marines, she spent two Thanksgivings overseas - Iraq in 2009 and Kuwait in 2016 for Thanksgiving.

"I remember eating so much that I had to go lie down during my watch shift (don't worry, someone covered for me)."

Maggie's favorite thanksgiving side? "There are no sides in Thanksgiving, all parts of a perfect mixed plate"

Favorite pie: Pizza

Thanksgiving tradition: listening to Alice's Restaurant at noon every year.

Bottom line:

The Pentagon’s actions break long-standing democratic norms.

And they send a dangerous message to veterans and the country as a whole.

A healthy democracy requires a military that stays professional, lawful, and above politics.

And to be clear:
Nothing in the video encouraged breaking the law or disobeying lawful orders.

It simply reminded service members of their duty not to follow illegal ones.
That’s standard military ethics — not sedition.

The threat isn’t just to Sen. Kelly.
It’s to the millions of retirees still technically under military jurisdiction — and to every future veteran who wants to serve in public office without having their military status used against them.

It also risks harming the military itself.

The U.S. military’s greatest strength is its nonpartisan character.
Service members must trust that the chain of command is not being used for political payback.

Blurring that line weakens morale, discipline, and public confidence.

The law does allow retirees to be recalled to active duty.
But this is normally used for things like:

filling manpower shortages;
addressing serious crimes;
NOT punishing someone for speaking about the Constitution

Recalling a sitting U.S. Senator over speech would be unprecedented.

In the United States, we do not use the military to intimidate or punish political opponents.

That’s a bright line in our democracy — and it exists to protect all of us.

After the video, the President publicly attacked these lawmakers, calling them traitors and saying their words were “punishable by death.”

Then the Pentagon announced an investigation and raised the possibility of recalling Kelly for court-martial.

This sequence raises serious red flags.

Last week, Sen. Kelly and other veterans in Congress spoke publicly about something every service member learns in basic training:

(1) You must follow lawful orders
(2) You must refuse illegal ones

That’s black-letter military law. It’s not partisan. It’s not new.