Gabrielle Giffords serves Thanksgiving meal at US Air Force base

[bigtree]

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords served a Thanksgiving meal on Thursday to US Air Force personnel in her first constituent event since she was shot in the head in January, her office said.

Ms Giffords, a Democrat who represents Tucson, Arizona, and surrounding areas, dished out turkey with tongs as she stood between Brigadier General Jon Norman and her husband Mark Kelly, said Giffords' spokesman Mark Kimble.

The event at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base was expected to draw more than 400 people, mostly U.S. Air Force personnel, retired service members and their families.

Base officials had originally invited a member of Giffords' staff to take part in the annual Thanksgiving dinner, but when Giffords heard of it she decided to go herself, her office said.

read: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8914185/Thanksgiving-Gabrielle-Giffords-serves-turkey-at-US-Air-Force-base.html




Giffords arrived in the dining hall at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base at midday Thursday wearing a University of Arizona ball cap and an apron with her nickname of “Gabby” sewn on the front. She was accompanied by her retired astronaut husband, Mark Kelly, who also donned an apron.

Giffords used only her left hand as she served, a sign that physical damage remains from the injuries she suffered when she was shot in January.

Kelly supported her from her left side as she worked the turkey station on the serving line. He served ham.

Afterward, she mingled with service members, exchanging pleasantries and mostly one word greetings and responses.

She did tell Airman 1st Class Millie Gray, of Kansas City, Mo., “Happy Thanksgiving, thank you for your service.”

read: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/nov/24/giffords-serves-thanksgiving-meal-arizona-base/




This is just the congresswoman's third trip back to Tucson since she was shot in the head at a constituent event at a shopping center there on Jan. 8. Six others were killed in the shooting spree.

Giffords continues to rehabilitate from the injuries she sustained that day, including what her office calls a "rigorous daily schedule of physical, occupational and speech therapy."

Her progress was documented in a recent ABC News special, tied to the release of a new book written by Kelly. She said she would run again for Congress next year only if she got better.

She also recently recorded a message to her constituents, saying in part: "I want to get back to work. Representing Arizona is my honor. My staff is there to help you. They keep me informed on your behalf. I miss you. I miss home. I'll see you real soon."

read: http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-giffords-thanksgiving-20111124,0,20852.story

http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/OUpkQUTJbsTPOlHtuaPdPQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD00MDc7cT04NTt3PTUxMg--/

watch: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/nov/24/giffords-serves-thanksgiving-meal-arizona-base/

[RKP5637]

1. K&R !!! n/t

[Rhiannon12866]

2. K&R! Great story!

How wonderful that she was able to do that and I'm sure that they were so glad to see her... :applause:

[tabatha]

3. They're both awesome.

[bigtree]

4. kick

[mwrguy]

5. K&R!

[ellisonz]

6. K & R

Go Gabby!

[bigtree]

7. kick

[blueamy66]

8. don't even care that she is wearing a kittycat hat

you go girl!

[soleft]

9. I'm hoping Time Magazine does the right thing and makes her Person of the Year

[ellisonz]

11. That would be fabulous!

:fistbump:

[Auntie Bush]

10. You go girl!

Looking forward to your return.

[AtomicKitten]

12. They are both so inspirational.

:patriot: