President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day be held each November. Lincoln did this in 1863, in the middle of the Civil War. As many families gather for a Thanksgiving meal, Pastor Maureen Howard of Immanuel Lutheran Church reminds people to give thanks for what life has to offer.

Free Thanksgiving meals are being offered today at WACO High School for anyone in the community from 10:30 to 2 p.m. and at Holy Trinity Parish in Richmond from 11 to 1 p.m. in the parish hall.