Teresa Baggett at city hall says a big event is going on today at the fellowship hall at the First United Methodist Church that starts at 10 a.m. this morning. The annual pinewood derby is fun for everybody and you are invited. It is an event for the local Boy Scouts.

Do you ever watch the infomercials on television? Pillows, enhancements, cosmetics, and the latest craze in cookware are all over the many channels, and they run mostly on weekends. I saw an ad for a infrared quartz space heater that is safe and will cut your heating bill as much as 50 percent. I bet. I am waiting on my city gas bill and the one from Georgia Power before I can give you a full review. So far so good.

Are you happy with the outcome of Tuesday’s election? Regardless, it is time to move on and to do our best to support the one that most of your fellow Americans chose to occupy the Oval Office the next four years. I was thinking of American presidents that were veterans. My research found Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, JFK, LBJ, Nixon, Carter, Reagan, Teddy Roosevelt, Washington, Jackson, Pierce, Eisenhower, Nixon, George H.W. Bush, George (“it’s all my fault”) W. Bush, McKinley, Harrison, Arthur, Garfield, Hayes, Grant, Monroe, Polk, and Pierce, have all served the stars and stripes.

Some of our presidents served in their state militias, namely Presidents Lincoln, Buchanan, Madison, Filmore, Tyler and Jefferson. Veterans we owe you a huge debt of gratitude. My single biggest regret in life and my biggest self disappointment is never having served in the military. Sam Farmer is a classmate that I am quite proud of for his decades of service to our country.

I have the red, white, and blue Harley out for the Haralson County Ladies Auxillary’s big motorcycle ride today that covers about 80 miles in Haralson and Carroll Counties. The 8th Haralson County Veterans Freedom Ride honors veterans and once again it has been organized by Sammy Robinson, a tireless worker in helping veterans from all over our area. He has put some spit and polish over the decades on our town’s landmarks, such as the park on the east side of town and the beautiful park across from the old Tallapoosa High location. I take out of town guests to see them because of how remarkable both projects are.

Sammy served in Vietnam. It was the first war many of us actually witnessed on television. There are many veterans here in West Georgia and East Alabama who need to be saluted not only on Veteran’s Day but everyday. Because of them, we got to cast ballots in our constitutional republic Tuesday.

Well, we are just under two weeks away from Thanksgiving. I have been a fan of smoked turkey since my days of living in Montgomery, where Bates Turkey Farm was located. I have a Big Green Egg that over the years has smoked many turkeys and fresh hams.

This year, I am calling Kemp Owens to get my smoked bird. His turkeys injected with barbecue sauce is something that is best described as a slice of heaven. My mother made something with raisins, walnuts, pecans, apples, and a healthy dose of Hellman’s mayonaise called Waldorf Salad. Thanksgiving meant oyster dressing and my mama made the best. Pumpkin pie and sweet potato pie with a dab of whipped cream were always on the desert table along with the most delicious pecan pie you’ve ever tasted.

We had a lot of good things on the table. There was always laughter at the dinner table. It was a time we thought of what we were thankful for. Like you, I have so much to be grateful for, such as a full pantry and refrigerator. There are families in our area who can’t say the same. There are children who are going to have to do without unless you and me get together and pitch in via the local food bank. Bobby Wilson coordinates the local effort to help feed hungry people. I will have more on how we can all help make Thanksgiving better for folks that need it in next week’s column.

Rhubarb Jones is a Tallapoosa native and a Distinguished Lecturer in the Department of Communication and Director of Special Projects in the Office of Development at Kennesaw State University.