In the Army, There's a Place at the Thanksgiving Table for Everyone I circled the Ralph's parking lot for several minutes looking for a place to park. Finally, I decided to abandon the parking lot and find a place on the street. I crossed four lanes of traffic and made my way into the grocery store, which was brimming with shoppers filling their carts with turkeys, pecans, green beans, alcohol and yams. As I approached the meat department to select a turkey I noticed a couple of twenty-somethings examining the turkeys and discussing the weight. My guess is that they were cooking their first Thanksgiving dinner. An elderly man strolled right past them and with the precision and purpose of an old pro, immediately selected his turkey and went on his way. Then I saw them, the mother and son. He was pushing the cart as she grabbed stuff off the shelves and checked off her list. She wore a blue cardigan, and he stood tall in his long-sleeve gray T-shirt with the word "ARMY" written across the front and shiny white tennis shoes. His eyes were bright, and his face still bore the remnants of teenage acne. His haircut created a perfect semicircle just above his ears. I recognized both the clothing and the gestures of this mother and son making their way through the store. The T-shirt is part of the Army physical training uniform. I've seen them a million times on Army bases around the world. As I stood next to them in the baking aisle the young man asked his mom to make fudge brownies with chocolate chips inside. She squeezed his hand and put two bags of chocolate chips in the cart. As I prepare Thanksgiving dinner for my family and friends I cannot help but think about the holidays that I have spent with the military, including Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Fourth of July, Easter, my birthday, my kids' birthdays, and part of the Christmas season. Of all those, Thanksgiving with the military was the best, ranking among my favorite Thanksgivings of all time. It's not because of the food, so I wont be including a recipe for "Airborne Stuffing" or "Army Apple Pie." Whether it's the Fourth of July or Thanksgiving, American flags are the predominant decoration for a military celebration. On Thanksgiving, the chow hall is covered in orange and brown streamers and three-dimensional paper turkeys serve as centerpieces. There are also Indian and Pilgrim ice sculptures. The menu includes all the traditional choices, like turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, corn, cranberry sauce, crab legs, shrimp, pecan pie and even eggnog (minus the alcohol). Again, I won't be including any recipes. Thanksgiving dinner with the military is different at first. Grandma's china is replaced with plastic trays, real flowers are replaced with plastic ones, and candlelight replaced with florescent. What is not replaced at the military Thanksgiving is the "family table." The military table includes "family members" from all walks of life. It's a diverse family with all races and religions, all ages, varying education levels, abilities, strengths and weaknesses. This "family table" is not brought together by shared DNA but by shared purpose and sacrifice. Thankfully the military family always has room for guests at its holiday table. I'm not in the military. I'm a performer who has had the privilege of entertaining the troops overseas, and I have been a frequent guest of the men and women in uniform during the holidays. I remember the first time I sat down for Thanksgiving dinner with the troops, in Kosovo in 2002. My plastic tray was full of food in various shades of brown. I didn't know where to sit, I was alone and missing my kids. A group of soldiers waived me over, and shuffled their M-16's to make room for me at the table. In many ways it was like sitting with my own family: everyone was talking at once and asking questions. My name is Andrea. I'm from Mississippi. Where are you from? Can you please pass the Tabasco sauce? It makes the turkey taste better. Do you want to see a picture of my kids? I haven't seen them in five months. I'm going to call them after lunch and wish them 'Happy Thanksgiving.' You should go now to call, I just called my parents and there was no line at the phone center. This is the first time I have been away from my parents on a holiday. This is the fourth Thanksgiving in the last six years that I have been deployed I'm going to get some pie. Do you want anything? The pecan pie looks good'" asked another soldier. Everyone at the table wove me into their conversation. I learned about their lives, their families, their jobs and their hearts. They told jokes and great stories. They reminisced about Thanksgiving at home with their families. A couple soldiers got choked up as they spoke about home. But like any good "brother" would do, another soldier would chime in with a one-liner to keep the spirit light. No tears or drama at this family table, just camaraderie and support. Taking time to celebrate and be thankful, and focusing on the moment of gratitude - not the loss. When the meal was over the soldiers picked up their trays and their guns and went back to work. Happy Thanksgiving to all the men and women and their families who serve. Thank you for welcoming a stranger at your "family table." Jennifer Rawlings is a performer and writer. She also directed the documentary "Forgotten Voices: Women in Bosnia." You can follow her at Jennifer@JenniferRawlings.com; www.IONLYSMOKEINWARZONES.com; and on Twitter at @JennLuRawlings.