David Coté

While cleaning out the old homeplace where the Vietnam veteran I cared for lived when he came home from the war, I found this 1965 Thanksgiving menu. This is what a holiday meal looked like for the soldiers that year: Shrimp Cocktail & Crackers Roast Turkey Giblet gravy Mashed potatoes Buttered peas Cornbread dressing Cranberry sauce Candied sweet potatoes Assorted crisp relish Hot butter rolls Butter Fruitcake Mincemeat pie Pumpkin pie with whipped cream Assorted fresh fruit Assorted nuts Assorted candy Milk Drink Coffee A warm, home-cooked meal must’ve hit different with a war still raging.