In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I wanted to take the time to thank every public servant doing his or her part to help refine and rejuvenate our American democracy.

I know this post may come off as corny, but I sincerely appreciate the work you do and the level of engagement you’ve given me, GovFresh and my non-govie peers.

Despite not getting paid a fair market value, or even the respect you deserve, you are in the trenches working against huge culture issues and a public hungry for change.

The push for open data, open source and a more open government isn’t just about social media and Web 2.0 jargon, but a stronger America. Your passion for openness and more citizen collaboration is setting a solid foundation.

Keep up the great work. Be proud of your service.

Happy Thanksgoving.