“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” – John F. Kennedy

It is customary to think about what we are thankful for as we gather with family and friends to celebrate the uniquely American Holiday – Thanksgiving.

The sentiments expressed this time of year may very well be sincere but if these sentiments are not followed by action, what value do they have?

The best way we can show our gratitude to God for the bounty we have, for the people He has put in our lives and for the freedoms we enjoy in this country is to respond not just with words but also with actions.

This is especially true given the times we live in today.  Our freedoms and our way of life are under constant assault.  It is not enough to give verbal affirmation of the rights and liberties guaranteed to us in our Constitution.  Now more than ever we need patriotic Americans to take action and defend these rights because if they don’t, we will lose them.

Our country can no longer afford to have people on the side lines letting others fight these battles.  The fight for our rights and liberties can only be won if we all shoulder this burden together.  If the far left is successful in stripping honest citizens of their 2^nd Amendment rights, it will not be long before our right to freely assemble and our right of free speech will also disappear.  Look at what has happened in Australia.  The citizens there let the government strip away their right to bear arms and now police are arresting people for simply gathering for a peaceful demonstration.

We know where the assault on our 2^nd Amendment rights leads which is why we need every patriotic American to get involved in the fight to defend and preserve our 2^nd Amendment rights.  Do we want police arresting people for simply protesting government policies in the street as is happening in Australia?  Do we want to live in a country where the power of government trumps individual rights?  Of course, we don’t but this is where we are headed if the gun grabbers win.

The Illinois State Rifle Association is on the front lines of this fight, but we can’t do it alone.  We need help.  It is time to put words into action by helping us hold the line on the rights and liberties guaranteed by our Constitution.

There are many ways to get involved.  Visit https://www.isra.org/Participate/Make-a-Donation and learn how.

Black Friday sales have already begun.  There are some bargains out there but be careful, there are some scammers trying to take advantage of you.  There are a lot of online companies that do good work.  If you have never ordered online or never heard of the company, check out the company first.

Tidbits:
November 26, 1941 - Thanksgiving is finally set as the fourth Thursday in November.  George Washington and Abraham Lincoln had moved the dates around.  In 1941, Franklin D. Roosevelt had been playing with the dates moving it earlier in November to make the Christmas shopping season longer.  This was very unpopular.  He finally set the date as the fourth Thursday in November to get himself out of trouble.

November 28, 1925 - The Grand Ole Opry begins broadcasting from Nashville, Tennessee.  Originally called the Barn Dance because of the very popular National Barn Dance broadcast out of Chicago, it was meant to reach those people in the south which were out of reach from the Chicago radio signal.  Shortly after it started, the name was changed to the Grand Ole Opry.

November 28, 1895 - Frank Duryea wins the first automobile race in the United States.  Originally, the race was from Chicago’s Loop to Waukegan but an eight-inch snow began and so the race was shortened to Evanston.  The course was 50 miles long.  At the start of the race, there were 85 contestants but only six finished the race.  Two electric cars started the race but their batteries ran out in a few miles.

November 30,1876 - The first Thanksgiving Day football game is played.  It was Yale vs. Princeton.  Yale won 2-0.  Over 1000 people attended the game.

December 1, 1958 - Ninety student die in the Our Lady of Angels first grade school fire in Chicago.  The school building had never been upgraded and no fire drills were ever practiced.  I was in school at the time and we had frequent fire drills.  Every kid knew what happened and we took it seriously.

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Upcoming Events: ISRA Calendar
For more information, visit www.isra.org

Saturday, November 27, 2021
Well Armed Woman

Sunday, November 28, 2021
Glock Fall League

Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Tuesday Night Air Rifle League

Saturday, December 4, 2021
Range Work Day

Sunday, December 5, 2021
ISRA Black Powder League

Gun & Trade Shows

Quad Cities Gun Show – Rock Island, IL
QCCA Expo Center
Dates: December 4 & 5, 2021
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
             Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $6.00

Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club Gun & Knife Show – Chillicothe, IL
Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club Clubhouse
Dates: December 4 & 5, 2021
Hours: Saturday: 8:30-5:00
             Sunday: 8:30-3:00
Admission: $3.00

Will County Gun Show – Peotone, IL
Will County Fairgrounds
Dates: December 4 & 5, 2021
Hours: Saturday: 8:00-3:00
             Sunday: 8:00-2:00
Admission: $6.00

New Berlin Gun Show – New Berlin, IL
Sangamon County Fairgrounds
Dates: December 11 & 12, 2021
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-4:00
             Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $5.00

Kane County Sportsman’s Show – St Charles, IL
Kane County Fairgrounds
Date: December 12, 2021
Hours: Sunday: 7:30-1:30
Admission: $7.00