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General David H. Petraeus, Commander, U.S. Military Forces, U.S. Headquarters Central Command, left, met with Quogue resident Lt. Col. Charles Killian during a stopover at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.

Because Pat Shuttleworth told me a few years ago that I should submit this column every Thanksgiving, and because her late husband, Ted, was such a terrific example of how one person could translate his love of a place into service to—and celebration of—that place, this week At Quaquanantuck is once more devoted to gratitude.

For those of us lucky enough to live in Quogue, or own property here, or visit this charmed village regularly, every season of the year brings more reasons to be grateful. Once you acknowledge this fact, picking a single day to give thanks seems somewhat arbitrary, not to mention redundant. Even so, in addition to whatever personal blessings we may be thankful for as we gather with family and friends on November 27, enumerating some of the things that make our village special can help us to have a deeper appreciation and put both our tribulations and our good fortune in perspective.

We can be thankful that we were once again spared the destructive force of a direct hit by a hurricane this year. Let’s hope that the images of the damage done to the Quogue Village beach by the mere vestiges of Hurricane Ida remain foremost in our minds when storm warnings are issued.

We can be thankful for the courage of the men and women of the Quogue Volunteer Fire Department, who are ready to come to the aid of their neighbors and make whatever sacrifices are called for to ensure the safety and protect the property of all residents.

And when there are no alarms, we can be grateful for the many ways in which the fire department takes the lead in helping us to define our community: fire safety lessons for kids, the Halloween Ghost Parade, support services for Santa’s visit to the Village Green, the Easter Egg hunt, the annual Open House. Residents will have a chance to show their gratitude directly while enjoying a fine—turkey-free, of course—repast at this Sunday’s pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon at the firehouse.

Likewise we can be thankful that we are blessed with wonderful teams of people who work for the Village of Quogue, in the Village Office, on the police force, and out on the roads and bays: they not only keep things running smoothly, they care deeply about the jobs they do, and that translates into a better quality of life for all of us.

We can be grateful that our beautiful Community Hall is a theatrical center for Southampton Town, with the Quogue Junior Theater Troupe filling a marvelous niche for younger thespians and the Hampton Theatre Company providing quality productions that rival some of the best professional efforts in New York.

We can give thanks for the fact that Quogue has—if not the best—one of the best schools on the East End. Excellent test scores and meeting and surpassing all state standards in different subjects are part of what makes a school system great, but, as with so many things in our village, it is the people: the caring and committed teachers, 
administrators, support staff and the Parent Teacher Association that make all the difference in creating a superlative educational environment.

Quogue is blessed, too, with a fantastic library facility that has become—especially since its renovation and expansion, but even before that—the cultural beating heart of the village. Give credit for that to an enthusiastic board of directors and an accomplished and helpful staff, led by Director Christine A. Clifton.

Right behind the library (spatially, not in terms of importance) is another jewel of our village: the Schoolhouse Museum. This treasure trove of artifacts and information is fascinating by itself, but it also serves as a symbol of the hard work and the vision of another group of wonderful people, the Quogue Historical Society. By giving us a window to the past, the Historical Society and the museum help us to put our own times in focus. Now on the verge of establishing a headquarters on Jessup Avenue, the Historical Society needs all of our help and support. Be assured, it’s worth it.

Need more? How about the Quogue Association? Nothing inspires gratitude like the efforts of a group of people who get together based on a shared love for the place where they live.

On the northern border of our village sits another reason to be thankful: the Quogue Wildlife Refuge, where, thanks to the Southampton Town Wildfowl Association, the village and the town, and thousands of supporters, all of us are welcome to wander and experience the unspoiled natural beauty of our village, the flora and fauna and a number of direct links to the spirit of Quogue’s past—along with wonderful programs like the Full Moon Night Hike slated for December 2 at 5 p.m.

Continue with the checklist. The Post Office, the Village Dock and boat launching ramps, the expanded Village Beach facility and the drawbridge that provides access to it, the stores on Jessup Avenue and on the highway, the Inn Spot, even the Quogue Cemetery Association: all of these places and institutions and the people who work for them and who make them work add texture and color to the tapestry that makes Quogue truly beautiful, and unique. Bear that in mind as you consider your blessings on this holiday of gratitude. Happy Thanksgiving!