I have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, and so does the rest of the United States of America. Thanksgiving is a time to reunite with our families around the dinner table while filling our stomachs with homemade meals. This is true for many Americans but not for our soldiers at war. They will be spending their Thanksgiving away from home, fighting for us. Soldiers will rely on each other for the comfort only family can give.

All I really know about the war is what I see on television. What I do know is that I support the soldiers. When photographing a piece for the Daily Egyptian titled, “Training Private Ryan” from Oct. 27 to 29, I experienced firsthand a small part of that life through SIUC ROTC students during their weekend field training. The experience captured in this photo made me think that instead of turkey, stuffing and pie, some soldiers will eat Meals-Ready-to-Eat (MRE) for Thanksgiving.

Thank you, U.S. Army, for sacrificing your holidays so I can be free to celebrate mine.