On Thursday, Americans will gather with friends and family to celebrate Thanksgiving. It is the time of year to reflect on what we are thankful for and to give thanks to those who make our communities stronger. We at NPPC are thankful for the teachers, firefighters, nurses, librarians, and so many more public employees who keep our communities safe, educate our children, and make this a great place to live.

We also know that many retired public employees are thankful for the retirement security provided by their pensions. Public employees work hard serving their communities and contribute to their pensions with every paycheck. They have earned a secure and dignified retirement after a career of service.

Recently, Marcia, a retired children’s services worker from Michigan, shared how her pension was there for her during her early retirement as she battled breast cancer: “I just thank God every day that I have a pension that I can rely on.” Marcia is not alone. Millions of retired public employees count on their pensions for a modest income in retirement.

Watch the video below to learn more about Marcia’s story.

For more stories, check out NPPC’s YouTube channel. You can share your own story here.

Pensions enable working people to retire with security and dignity. This Thanksgiving, we’re thankful for the opportunity to fight to protect them.