A few months after his inauguration as our first president, George Washington issued "Presidential Proclamation Number One,” declaring November 26, 1789 as a national day of “thanksgiving and prayer.”

A few months after his inauguration as our first president, George Washington issued "Presidential Proclamation Number One,” declaring November 26, 1789 as a national day of “thanksgiving and prayer.” In the proclamation he voiced his personal conviction that "it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God." After that onetime proclamation, the tradition did not become a national holiday until it was proclaimed so by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863.

As we prepare to stop as a nation to celebrate Thanksgiving, it is a good time to stop and take stock of the many things for which we can all be thankful. For me, there are so many things to be thankful for I can scarcely list them all. I have the love and support of my family and good friends; two awesome jobs that challenge, entertain, and reward. There is one thing, however, that I am thankful for that most folks in our country would take for granted: The roof over my head.

I think most of us who work in the roofing industry take for granted just how important the work we do is to our fellow countrymen. Shelter is one of the most basic of all human needs: air, water, food, shelter - pretty much in that order.

I do not expect the world will ever stop for a minute, much less a day, to give thanks to the ones who risk much to furnish the roof over their heads. In fact, we work in one of those trades that seems to be perennially underappreciated. Well, I for one give thanks for the great good work produced by the roofing industry. Not just because this is where I have made a living for nearly 35 years, but because (with the exception of a couple of really bad camping trips) I have never lacked for shelter in all of my years on the planet. Not one night without a roof over my head. Thanks.