Granholm: Remember Those Who Cannot be Home for the Holidays

Press Release

In her weekly radio address, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today asked people to remember those who cannot be home for the holidays because they are busy serving others.

"They include the police officers, the fire fighters, the corrections officers who protect our communities," Granholm said. "They are the doctors and the nurses who staff our hospitals. They're the bus drivers and the airport and railroad employees who help us get to our destinations. We take these services for granted, and we shouldn't."

Granholm also asked people not to forget the brave men and women in our armed forces.

"More than 1,000 members of the Michigan Army and Air National Guard are now serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere across the world along with Michigan members of our military," Granholm said. "Their dedication and sacrifice allow us to celebrate the holidays secure and free. While our service men and women accept the hardship of being away from home at the holidays, it is more difficult for their families and their loved ones. We owe our service men and women a debt of gratitude. Let us keep them and their families in our thoughts and prayers as well."

The governor also asked for support for food banks during this time of high demand for food.

"No one should go hungry, especially this time of the year," Granholm said. "So please consider donating food or contributing money to your local food bank, or volunteering your time. For more information, visit the Food Bank Council of Michigan's Web site at fbcmich.org."

"While this has been a tough year for Michigan, we still have much to be grateful for," Granholm said. "Our strength is in our people and in the support we give one another. So shake the hand of a soldier, wave to a fire fighter and smile at a bus driver. They all help make our country what it is: the greatest nation on earth."

Radio Address - Holiday Greeting

Hello, this is Governor Jennifer Granholm.

In the hustle and bustle of the holidays, we sometimes forget what this season is all about. It's a time for faith, and for gatherings of families and friends. It's an opportunity to reflect on the past year and to look ahead to the next. And it's a time to count our blessings.

Those blessings should include the people who won't be home for the holidays because they're busy serving us. They include the police officers, the fire fighters, the corrections officers who protect our communities. They are the doctors and the nurses who staff our hospitals. They're the bus drivers and the airport and railroad employees who help us get to our destinations.

We take these services for granted, and we shouldn't. Many are lifesaving, and all contribute to our well-being and our quality of life. So let's include the men and women who provide these services in our thoughts and prayers this season.

Let us also not forget the brave men and women in our armed forces. More than 1,000 members of the Michigan Army and Air National Guard are now serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere across the world along with Michigan members of our military. Their dedication and sacrifice allow us to celebrate the holidays secure and free.

While our service men and women accept the hardship of being away from home at the holidays, it is more difficult for their families and their loved ones. We owe our service men and women a debt of gratitude. Let us keep them and their families in our thoughts and prayers as well.

Finally, I want to ask your support for another special group of people, the ones who run food banks throughout our state.

The demand for food has never been greater in Michigan. Our food banks are distributing food as quickly as it comes in.

No one should go hungry, especially this time of year. So please consider donating food or contributing money to your local food bank, or volunteering your time. For more information, visit the Food Bank Council of Michigan's Web site at fbcmich.org. That's F as in Food-B-C-MICH dot org.

While this has been a tough year for Michigan, we still have much to be grateful for. Our strength is in our people and in the support we give one another. So shake the hand of a soldier, wave to a fire fighter, smile at a bus driver. They all help make our country what it is: the greatest nation on earth.

Have a safe, happy and blessed holiday season.

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