Have a happy, safe Thanksgiving Published Nov. 20, 2008 By Col. Steven Harrison 436th AW commander DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Let me be the first to wish you happy holidays! The holidays mean many of our Airmen will be traveling to visit with friends and family to celebrate the season. Make sure you are taking the appropriate measures to guarantee the season will be festive! Plan your trips carefully, get plenty of rest, and please don't sacrifice safety for expeditious travel. Fall has definitely arrived bringing with it cold temperatures and adverse weather, as evident by Tuesday's Warrior Run cancellation, and the roads are becoming more dangerous as frost, snow and ice begin to appear. Take sensible precautions to ensure this will be a safe and happy Thanksgiving ... you've earned it! Most of you will have the opportunity to enjoy turkey, cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes while visiting with friends and family on Thanksgiving Day. Please also take time to remember how much we have to be thankful for as individuals and a Nation. No country has ever enjoyed the manifest blessings that America enjoys -- blessings of prosperity, security and freedom. The fact that Americans have established a day of giving thanks is both cause and effect of our gratitude. It's also worth remembering Dover's mission runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. As the logistics lifeline to the war fighter, we simply do not have the luxury of shutting down operations during time of war. America's Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines serving in Iraq and Afghanistan depend on the cargo that flows through America's Super Port and moves on our C-5 and C-17 airlifters to sustain their mission ... and the sacrifice of others like you and your families is one of the things we should be most grateful for. So I ask you to remember the many men and women serving abroad, and here at home who continue the pattern of excellence and ensure the mission continues while the rest of us enjoy a day of thanks. I hope that some of you were able to make the incredible Tops In Blue performance Wednesday night. Tops In Blue definitely lives up to its reputation as the premiere entertainment showcase for the Air Force. Once again it was a packed house for the performance of these world class entertainers. It was nice to sit down in the company of my fellow Airmen, and our community supporters, to kick off the Holidays in style. Thanks Tops In Blue! This brings me to my next topic: Wingman Day. Today is a chance for each squadron and unit to drill down and focus on our most important asset: our people. We should be able to count on each other, not only when we deploy in support of our nation's interests but also here on the home front. Being a good wingman is something we should strive for everyday. So I'm asking leaders at all levels to choose from our established menu -- or develop an option of your own -- to tailor Wingman Day to your organization in order to build a culture of mutual support that fits your needs. One important topic should be preparing to enjoy the holidays safely. Thanks in advance for taking care of your Airmen! Global Mobility Operations, Tops In Blue and Wingmen ... three additional reasons Team Dover is America's Preeminent Expeditionary Airlift Team!