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Maine man offers open Thanksgiving invitation at his home in honor of late son

THIS YEAR, Donald Oakes is opening his home for an open Thanksgiving at 230 Thompson Road, Arundel, to honor his late son Jameson and welcome the community dinner guests.
After Jameson's death last year, Oakes says he chose to get moving again rather than lay down and die.
THIS YEAR, the meal will include three turkeys with one smoked in the smokehouse and Oakes's woodworking shop in West Kennebunk, where Jameson grilled burgers two days before his death.
Last year, roughly 50 people showed up for the first open Thanksgiving, including neighbors and curious attendees, while the meal helped families strapped for cash.
Oakes says the dinners are part of his healing and that he's become the man his son wanted, maintaining two house rules—no drunk uncles and no politics—to keep the open Thanksgiving welcoming.

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