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Matt York / AP
U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., and her husband, retired Capt. Mark Kelly, meet both active and retired airmen after serving a Thanksgiving meal to troops at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Ariz., on Nov. 24.
Matt York / AP
The AP reports:
U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords helped serve a Thanksgiving meal to service members and retirees at a military base in her hometown of Tucson, Ariz.
Giffords arrived in the dining hall at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base at midday Thursday wearing a 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 the full story.
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Isn't it great to see a politician who inspires us for a change.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom along with the Congressional Gold Medal are the highest civilian U.S. medals. It would be nice if Gabrielle Gifford could be nominated for one. However, if the proccess is anything like the military it would probably be downgraded a medal or two. I'm a Republican but I can admire and vote for Democrats (and Republicans) who do what they truly believe is right as opposed to "toeing" the party line. Gabby reminds me of Representative Darlene Hooley (D) retired from my state of Oregon. She is very determined to assure that military personnel receive all of the assistance possible. I wish Gabby a quick and full recovery.
God Bless you Gabby and Mark . Happy Thanksgiving to you. Have a safe and speedy recovery . Gods speed . Keep smiling and hold your head up high with pride because you are one strong woman with a mission to complete. Good luck Gabby and Mark
where are the uninjured congressmen/senators. To busy playing politics I'm sure. Gabby puts them to shame. Keep up the good work Gabby. As to the clean apron statement, they were serving meals to the servicemen, do you wear the food you serve? I don't want to eat wherever you serve meals then.grow up, volunteer, help someone in need.
Courage comes in many forms keep fighting the good fight.
jkh
If the bulk of our Congress could just put America first the way this brave woman can, then perhaps we could be pulling ahead of this mess we're in.
I think 'Gabby' is fast becoming America's sweetheart. I know her home is in Arizona, but I'm glad we in Houston got to 'borrow' her for a little while.
I think you're right, she sure has captured our hearts, and she's married to a great guy.
Troops in Arizona? Oh ya , I forgot, they have the lamest gun laws in the nation. I sure hope Gabby gets totally on her feet again and works to change that. But of course we all know the military needs a presence to fend off an alien attack.
nwick, Wherever you live probably has the lamest gun laws(probably RI) What are you 12? Mom's calling. Your hot pocket is ready. Your not even worthy enough to TIE my boots.
nwmick and Combat Medico69
Do you fellows have prescriptions for the meds you use?
nmwick::: Troops in Arizona? Yes, by God, there are. Or don't you consider military who serve on the 7 military bases in Arizona "troops"? Don't you let the Marines know!
Two American heroes visiting with our defender heroes, what a beautiful thing it is.
I am sorry she was shot and I am glad to see that she is slowly recovering. I am a licensed speech therapist and I saw her on 60 Minutes. She has serious problems and is in no way recovered enough to cognitively and properly represent the citizens of Arizona. It is criminal that Democrats and her husband are parading her around trying to show that she is adequately recovering. Her single-word, well rehearsed answers to canned questions is a travesty. She is being used and the citizens of Arizona are being duped.
I didn't see Jan Brewer serving turkey or expressing thanks to the troops in the state that she governs. Did I miss her?
mynameisaerlene-i didn't see jerry brown serving turkey to troops in california, so whats your point?
Jan Brewski was too busy getting drunk.
I don't think she would ever again be able to properly do her former job or any other job for that matter the poor lady. I haven't kept up with news on her, but if she hasn't, she should step down from her position. I kind of agree with you a bit...it seems her husband wants to keep her in the limelight and news for some reason. I hope it isn't just for publicity and attention, etc.
Sara Lee::: Don't count Gabby down and out! She's doing great considering all she has been through. Granted she has a way to go, but give her more time with her rehab. And maybe her husband wants to take her out into the public some-- like this incident-- and he doesn't have control over the news media.
Susie, I didn't say she wasn't doing well considering her injury or that there was no hope for her getting much better in the future, but you are not being realistic as far as her cognitive abilities after such an injury. She does not have the mental capacity to do her former job at this time and the right thing for her to do is to step down. Everyone with any sense knows this but won't say it.
amen, and we need all the lefty Congresswomen we can get
Bobbie - what we don't not need is a do nothing Congress - to encapsulate your phrase about "lefties" take your "righties" who think Grover Norquist is their "Guru" You want to adore at the altar of a non-elected dictator who does not believe in government - to quote a millionaire testifying before Congress - "Go to Somalia" they have no government - see how that works for you Bobbie Baby and take Grover with you
Gabby is one of the most GOPish Democrats in Congress.
She was shot by a left wing progressive after voting to remove Peloski from her position
Gabbrielle Gifford's continuing improvement is inspiring and I hope that she makes a full recovery. Thoughts are certainly in order for the six innocent people who lost their lives and to the other twelve who were wounded in that tragedy. Also, very best wishes to all of our men and women in uniform who sacrifice so much each and every day.
Peace to all.
All of my life I have seen good triumph over evil. This recovery of Congresswoman Giffords is indeed a triumph. What saddens me so much is the fact that this monster who shot Giffords also looked a nine year old child, a beautiful girl, an innocent girl in the face and shot her in the chest. She died in the hospital.
What is hidden in all of this, the shooting of Giffords, the murder of a nine year old is that it is all a cover up.
Yes, a cover up for the death (assassination) of the Federal Judge named John Roll. He was about to participate in a couple of rulings which were potentially 'controversial'. And the unnamed, unknown person with whom Loughner communicated with on a throw away phone and from public phone booths and a couple of times by e mail was undoubtedly the catalyst for this demonic scene.
He may also have been the person who supplied the cash for Loughner to purchase ammunition and a weapon plus have money for motels and some yet unrevealed items found in his possession.
The Federal Government IS NOT, I repeat IS NOT, looking at the secret alliance made between Loughner and this 'mystery man’. There are at least two eye witnesses who saw Loughner in the company of a man several times in the week preceding this massacre.
Who was he? Why don't the Feds conduct a search of the cell phone and the monsters computer?
The monster also went under two assumed names on a very strange web page and posted what seemed at the time comical or crazy kid post. Later review reveals that these were encrypted messages from him and from the 'mystery man’.
So it may be concluded that after tasting blood this monster deliberately and maliciously shot an innocent nine year old girl after shooting Giffords. BUT his real target was Judge Roll.
Don’t make me say I told you so. Find out who the 'mystery' man was.
Sarah Palin put the cross-hairs on her Congressional District and It took one Psychologically impaired man to follow through. I would call that being in harms way. Best to you Gabby!
Yea a far left progressive shot her by the way
Sarah Palin put the cross-hairs on her Congressional District and it only took one Psycholically impaired man to pick up a gun and Lock and load as Palin is so fond of saying. Gabby Giffords is a hero for standing up against that sort of inflammatory remark shortly before she was shot.
Geez Josh, a little cloak and daggar there! This guy had an issue with G G for some time before the shooting, go back and read some of the articles around that time. The whole cross hairs thing, was the little incentive a nutbag like that needed. This women went out regularly and spoke with her constituancy, she actually gave a damn about the people she represented.
Gabrielle... You can do it,,, I suffered catostophic brain injury 15 years ago.. 6 years in a wheel chair and 6 years on crutches... today I walk freely ,,, not to far but it is great,,, If I can do it I know you can ,,, Hang in there.. you are a wonderful person regardless of your political affiliation,,, you have a great husband and family,,,, go Gabrielle...!!!
agree, wonderful person....go Gabrielle!!!!
On hearing that Gabrielle Giffords recovered from the heartbreak shot news.I am really excitied. No matter what she reward, i just hope she can remember those passed away and try her best to finished their dream.
Early campaigning?
This is a beautiful story and I look forward to Gabbys continued improvement.
Her husband is a TRUE testament to what marriage is all about and I believe, one of the main reasons Gabby has recovered to the astonishing point that she has now.
Mark is the epitome of a care giver.
May God Bless all those who are.
Oh for the love of rice and beans!! I need some of that stuff that helps stop you from vomiting! "Beautiful Story", "Her husband a TRUE testament", "Mark is the epitome of a care giver." "May god bless". Are you serious???
These two are nothing more than media hogs and their 15 minutes of fame is UP! I have just about had enough! The next thing we will read is a lie about them helping build houses for the homeless! You would think they would feel some shame about lying about this story!
The Nerve! I almost lost it when you brought up the fictional character! That part was funny! I was waiting for the other part to be mentioned - the fictional book. Too Funny!
You know your god must have been watching these two "serve dinner" when that plane slammed into a mountain killing an entire family heading for their Thanksgiving gathering. See what happens when we rely to much on fictional characters to guide us? Rupert would have saved them - or even one of the Teletubbies!
Segdirb, you are obviously a VERY MISERABLE excuse for a human being.
Seek help while you still can.
He's just another progressive person full of hate and bigotry
I don't really think of her husband as the "epitome of a caregiver". He chose going up in space instead of staying by her bedside! A great husband would not have done that. He would have chosen her over career.
What am I thankful for? So many others have covered it so well that, in true Thanksgiving style, it's my time to offer seconds. One thing that I am thankful for that I will post is the relatively low percentage of righty-tighty wing-nuttery, at least so far.
WE should stop injuring and maiming people throughout the world.
Congress has people that support war crimes, warmongering and burning the flesh off of children (white phosphorus).
Also, there are congresspersons that have been high officials in the ADL an organization that spies on Americans for a foreign country and an organization that promotes policies to benefit a foreign nation no matter what the cost to our country.
Gabby is one of these congresspersons on all the above counts. Gabby should and WE should stop maiming and injurying people throughout the world.
anothermick little hypocritical there with your "right wing" statement aren't you? If you bothered to read the posts of your fellow "leftist nut-jobs" you would see some still clinging to the, Sarah Palin is responsible,dog crap template. When this tragedy happened leftist crawled out from their sewers, spewing these lies even though their own fearless leader Obama went before the Nation asking for civility. And try as they might, they scoured Laughners home and found no evidence this nut job was "right wing". But instead of stories about Gabrielle Giffords survival being miraculous and a testaments to Americas medical advancements, your leftist brethren still bend over backwards trying to somehow twist this to "blame the right". What you on the left lack in brains, you make up for it with perverted imagination. Your own POTUS went before the Nation saying he would, "bring a gun to a knife fight", but when that is pointed out as being an "inflammatory remark", the left ignores such statements attributed to "their side". But it is well understood that Democrat is spelled H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-T-E. Very inspirational story of survival though, to bad it only inspires "anti right wing" rhetoric from the left.
Gee, Mruseurhead, I thought there was more than a bit more nuance than you seemed to give me credit for. It's good that you recall President Obama's calls for civility. I think I was being civil to those on the right, even far right, of me who had keyboarded with civility. Those who hadn't, the ones I characterized as "righty-tighty wing-nuts," well, that's different. As far as chastising lefty-loosey wing-nuts, usually there's no shortage of others to do that without my help. I realize the sampling might be limited, but in my close-to-seven decades on this earth, I have yet to come across a sewer-dwelling leftist. Or rightist, for that matter.
I want to know how you can be serving a lot of individuals with all kinds of food and not have one damn drop on your apron?!?!?!? Well - HOW CAN YA???? That apron is still just as white as it was when they took it out of the bag to take this photo.
I am so sick of this woman and her husband doing any and everything they can to get in the spotlight. I wish - oh how I wish - they would go and sit down SOMEWHERE and move on with their lives! This congress person and her husband are not that interesting that we have to know what is going on in their lives - even when it is a lie to try and show some good on their behalf!
I thought he was going to the moon or Mars or something - I was hoping he would take her with him and the rocket would breakdown after they got there! I remember this because I said someone needed to go push her in right before take off and run like hell! Well -that is one wish I did not get - but that wont STOP ME FROM CONTINUING TO WISH!
You don't have to be a slob to serve food. Just sayin'. They weren't serving 'all kinds of food', she was serving the turkey, he was serving the ham. Neither likely to splatter just moving it to a plate (since she was only using one hand, I'll go out on a limb and assume she wasn't doing the carving). Can't figure out why everyone is focusing on the clean aprons. Seems petty.
Segdirb::: Why don't you go sit down somewhere and think for once in your life. If you don't want to hear anything more-- or see anything more-- about Gabby and Mark, you can just take a flying leap off a cliff. That way you won't have to put up with it any longer.
BTW, I attended TWO Thanksgiving lunches this past weekend. At one, there were people to put the food on our plates. The one who "dished out" the slices of turkey didn't make a mess-- and the gravy was put on at another spot in the lineup. Slices of turkey aren't messy-- unless you do it and are just a big slob.
At the other one, we served ourselves-- and no one made a sloppy mess of serving themselves slices of turkey or ham. And I even dished up some gravy to put on my mashed potato and didn't make a mess.
This is nice, encouraging of course. Isn't it amazing what immediate access to excellent quality health insurance can do? She is truly a blessed American. (Yes you do detect a bit of snark in my comment) I am truly happy for this woman that she's making such a great recovery and I recognize that she has a long way to go yet, but I can't help but think about the many other wonderful Americans who don't have the access to care that she has and every single day either don't reach their recovery potential, lose everything they have to medical bills or worse die. THAT is and will continue to be the story. Haters can call it Obamacare if they wish, but ya know what, HE CARES why don't the rest of them who want to undo this very necessary assistance to ALL Americans?
Heeheh - LOL. Well if you were "somebody" you could get excellent health care too! List your accomplishments - send them in - and we will get back with you. If you have less than a couple of week or months to live - then that's too bad - because it takes at least eight weeks to process your application and an additional 10 weeks for it to be reviewed. We will then send you an answer within 20 weeks of the review. If you have been shot - you might as well hang it up baby - we don't do "rush processing". Now if you have one of those slow developing diseases - you may make it to the application finish - but we are not making any promises!
If you are deemed worthy - then you can get excellent health care. Warning - we check all accomplishments - fake photos will disqualify you as you can't use those until you are deemed worthy! Like the two in this story! Good Luck!
My mother wasn't 'somebody' and after her massive stroke, she received the same care program that Gabby did, minus the surgery. Same access to aggressive therapy. Same co-pays and out-of-pocket limits.
Do you realize that she had cross hairs over her district because she supports health care for all Americans. That is why Palin posted the map on the internet with cross hairs on every Congressman or Congresswoman who was for helath care for Americans.