By William Lambers

It was Thanksgiving in 1946 and the celebration took place as far away as Germany, which was in ruins after World War II. The U.S. Women’s Army Corps, stationed in Frankfurt, hosted 30 “wide-eyed” German children for a turkey dinner. The Chicago Tribune reported that after the dinner, German kids were seen clutching oranges they were given to take home. Such food was rare indeed amid all the shortages in post-war Germany.

Thanksgiving can inspire the sharing of food with the hungry worldwide, rescuing starving children. In fact, it was Thanksgiving in 1947 that supported one of the greatest peace initiatives ever, the Marshall Plan that rebuilt Europe from the ashes of World War II.

During Thanksgiving week in 1947, Americans donated to feed Europe via the Friendship

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