It feels like as soon as 2024 started, our agency hit the ground running. In many respects we haven’t slowed down. So, as we head into our Thanksgiving celebrations looking forward to spending time with family and friends, let’s reflect for a moment on everything that this year brought us. 

Thanksgiving serves as a time to come together. It’s a time we can break bread and enjoy good company with those we hold dear and be thankful for all we have. That is fantastic, and I encourage you all to take that time to breathe and recharge as we head into the tail-end of the year. I also encourage you all to remember the original history of this holiday and what it can mean for others, especially for Native Americans and Alaska Natives. Giving thanks is a longstanding tradition among many Indigenous peoples. Yet, the first Thanksgiving was not just about giving thanks.

The Wampanoag Tribe shared their food and taught the Pilgrims how to live off the land before the first known Thanksgiving feast. The Wampanoag shared knowledge of how to plant crops such as beans and squash and use fish remains as fertilizer, which led to many productive harvests. And even though the spirit of cooperation behind the “first Thanksgiving” did not last, its original intent endures and is important to our work at the Forest Service as we strive to do better and meet our trust responsibilities with the Native American and Alaska tribal nations.

On a personal note, this year I give thanks for time spent with family and friends. I give thanks for the exceptional and dedicated work that you do serving the American people. As one of our agency core values, service is both part of our name and an integral part of our identity. And I am proud to stand with you all as we continue to deliver our multiple-use and conservation missions.

I am humbled for the opportunity to do what we do here in the Forest Service and the opportunity to share in your company—because each of you works hard to ensure that people can continue to reap the benefits that healthy, working forests and grasslands can provide. Together, we continue to provide millions of Americans with economic benefits, clean air, fresh drinking water, world-class science and some of the best outdoor experiences on the planet. 

However you choose to celebrate, please take the time to think of those who continue serving and working to protect our national forests and grasslands during this holiday. I am especially grateful for and give special recognition to our recreation staff, wilderness rangers, law enforcement officers, firefighters and other first responders and employees who will be on duty over the holiday.  

Before we part ways and get ready to share good food and good stories, please remember to stay safe this weekend. This holiday weekend brings increased physical and mental health risks for many people. Please be safe, maintain situational awareness and take the necessary precautions in all your activities. Remember the Employee Assistance Program, the suicide prevention toolkit and many other resources that we have available through our Employee Portal and our Work Environment and Performance website.

Your safety and well-being are important to the future of our agency. Thank you for your hard work, commitment and dedication to our mission. I wish all of you and your families a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving.

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