Thanksgiving Day brought parades and pies, sunshine and shopping plans for millions of Americans on Thursday — and joyful surprises for some, too.
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords delighted diners at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson when she arrived at noon to help serve meals to active and retired military families. Sporting a ball cap and an apron emblazoned with "Gabby," Giffords, D-Ariz., served with her left hand, a reminder of the January shooting attack that killed six and gravely wounded her.
The 85th Macy's Thanksgiving parade floated, tooted and marched through Manhattan, wowing an estimated 3.5 million people on the streets and millions more TV viewers. Forty balloons from old favorites such as Snoopy to movie tie-in newcomers such as a creature from director Tim Burton, were interspersed with performing stars promoting their latest recordings and Neil Diamond crooning from a Mount Rushmore float.
PHOTOS: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
The parade was loaded with lots of patriotism. Fifty veterans marched with 50 U.S. flags followed by a mini-replica of Lady Liberty's torch and a glee club singing America the Beautiful.
From sea to shining sea, Thanksgiving celebrants turned to bountiful tables. Pie-loving President Obama, before a feast with family friends and staff featuring six choices of pie, telephoned 10 servicemembers deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan to express his gratitude for their sacrifices, the White House said.
CNN gave troops abroad a chance to shout out to families at home. After a decade of war in Afghanistan and Iraq, thousands of troops were having their last Thanksgiving dinner on deployment before the drawdown of troops in Iraq is completed.
The day was dry and bright for most of the nation, although the Northwest dealt with rain, mountain snow and chillier than usual temperatures. The Weather Channel forecast for holiday travelers also included a heads-up with mostly good weather for intrepid Black Friday shoppers setting out in pre-dawn hours today to nab specials.
Flight delays were few Thursday. However, those heading home on the weekend may need patience and umbrellas. Rain is forecast for the South on Saturday. On Sunday, scattered storms, showers and wind may plague the East from Philadelphia to Atlanta and over to Detroit.
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