<a href="http://www.ocregister.com/articles/family-honda-feast-2241994-center-anaheim">Thousands line up for free meals</a>
<em><strong>Annual feast draws diverse mix of society during hard times</strong>.
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Ducks players putting in the time...
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ANAHEIM A laid-off chimney maker. A Marine Vietnam veteran. A school girl from Northern California.
Despite the shoddy economy, the growing job losses, a gloomy housing market and the recent fires that took away hundreds of homes, these people joined thousands of others for a holiday feast at the Honda Center in Anaheim as Orange County celebrated Thanksgiving with gratitude for family, good health and the possibilities of a bright future.
"We're sitting in Orange County," said Steve Widener, 59, of Rancho Santa Margarita, who was a corporal in the Marines during the Tet Offensive in 1968. "We're somewhere where there's always opportunity."
He balanced his 3-year-old grandson, Mason, on his shoulders, and another grandson, Dylan, 6, stood next to him in an ever-growing line in the Honda Center parking lot with a free Thanksgiving feast about to kick off.
With the United States in the throes of one of the worst economic slowdowns in history, Widener still believes that "America will pull through it. Relative to what we're used to, yes, it's tough, but if you got your health and family, the rest of it is gravy."
The <strong>real estate agent</strong> brought his grandsons, whom he described as "hockey nuts," to an annual feast, started by Anaheim restaurateur Frank Garcia, now in its 22nd year. The meal service has gotten so big that it was moved to the parking lot of the sports and entertainment venue five years ago in cooperation with the Honda Center and the Anaheim Ducks.
About 1,500 volunteers made preparations to serve about 15,000 people with more than 900 turkeys, 5,000 pounds of mashed potatoes, 5,000 pies, 4,000 pounds of mixed vegetables, 400 gallons of gravy, and 20,000 dinner rolls along with all the other fixings.
Among the volunteers was an excited 14-year-old Lennie Char of Saratoga, a city near San Jose, who came to Orange County with her parents to be with family for Thanksgiving. But on Thursday morning she found herself wearing a white apron and blue gloves, dishing ladlefuls of steaming carrots to hungry and appreciative families and others as the meal service kicked off at 11 a.m.
Her mother, Nellie Yoshida, hopes that the impromptu volunteering duty teaches her girl some life lessons.
"Just to learn to be more giving of yourself," said Yoshida, handing Styrofoam plates to the hungry, as her husband, Richard, served tortilla stuffing. "We all have something in common: we're all human beings and we have a need to be together. We're alike in many more ways than we're different."
Minutes before the meals were to be served the song "Amazing Grace" played over the speakers, clouds parted to give way to blue skies, the sun began to shine and Army Junior ROTC cadets from Katella High School stood at attention throughout the parking lot.
Hours earlier, Gregorio and Crescencio Santos of Santa Ana put their four children, including a very sleepy eldest daughter, Nohely, 18, in their Honda Accord and headed to the feast that they have enjoyed for the last decade. They were among the first families to arrive at the Honda Center at about 8:30 a.m.
Just three weeks ago, Gregorio Santos lost his job as a chimney mold maker. The family's lone breadwinner was worried about the future, but still managed to smile as his family waited in line for more than two hours.
"We're all still well and that's the best part," he said in Spanish. "We can still be together."
The couple's son Miguel, 13, was 3 when the family first started coming to the dinner hosted by Frank Garcia. The food is all Miguel could think about in line, while his grateful mother said she just thanks God for all they have.</em>
I'm thankful that my uncle, a marine who served in Vietnam who survived 68 Tet offensive, and who is a recent cancer survivor, was able to be with his family this Thanksgiving. I made the point to bold the fact that Vietnam vet was an RE agent because no matter how much we dislike the REIC, some have done more than we could ever do, and deserve to be picked up when they are down. Everyone knows they were not picked up when they were down the most. Now, regardless of the holiday or their occupation, they should be picked up when needed. I hope everyone had a great t-day, and I hope everyone is thankful for what they have.
