“As many of us gather with family to enjoy the Thanksgiving Day feast, remember there are Tennesseans who struggle daily to make ends meet, especially during these tough economic times. That’s why it is vital we participate in this democracy to ensure we elect leaders who share our values and our concerns. We are fortunate to live in a country that protects our freedoms and our way of life.

“But our country is not perfect, and it faces many challenges on many fronts. We must never rest on our laurels and we must always strive to make this state, this country and this world a better place to live and raise a family. Let’s all be thankful for what we have, but let’s also remember more work needs to be done to ensure everyone can live free and prosper with dignity.”