Special Thanksgiving Comes to Some Military Families

Some Arkansas families have even more than usual to be thankful for this holiday. Two weeks ago, several hundred soldiers with Arkansas` 39th Infantry Brigade. Over the last year, Renee Ryken has gotten very good at raising her 2-year-old son, Connor on her own. "That was a very developmental, growing stage for him," Ryken said. But she`s giving some of that responsibility back to her husband, Sergeant Tony Ryken, just home from Iraq. "[He] got over there, and I haven`t seen him for 9 months," she said. The three did share last Thanksgiving together. "It wasn`t very fun," said Staff Sgt. Ryken. "[We] at lunch on Thanksgiving Day at McDonald`s and Cracker Barrel for Thanksgiving dinner." "Really out of your element, yet so thankful you`re actually together," Renee said. That is why this year is like no other. "We are so fortunate compared to so many families that are missing their loved ones for the holidays," she said. "Thankful of course that I made it home, thankful that I have such a wonderful wife that was able to handle everything while I was gone," said Sgt. Ryken. The chores they can now split up between them. "I can`t imagine what it would`ve been like to go through it without him," Renee said. But the Thanksgiving holiday, they can all share together. The Ryken`s say some military families don`t pay as much attention to the holidays, because it`st oo difficult without their loved one. But they remind them to stay positive and stay in touch.