ROY -- JoAn Bitton was simply taking her turn as a room mother the first time she dressed up as a Pilgrim and told the Thanksgiving story.
Forty-five years later, she's still at it.
"All of the room mothers had to take a turn helping out and it was my turn, so I decided I wanted to do some kind of holiday presentation," Bitton said.
"I just decided to keep doing it, and I have done it in all of my children's, grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's classes as well. I've been to quite a few schools in Morgan, Roy, Ogden, Layton, Pleasant View -- a lot of Weber County schools. I actually started out in Washington state."
Bitton, 72, and now a resident of Salt Lake City, lived for years in Weber County, where she has told the story to children in kindergarten through sixth grade in Weber, Ogden and Davis county schools.
This week, she dressed up for preschoolers at Angie's Kinder Academy in Roy, where her great-grandson Jace Widdison got to play the part of a pilgrim.
"My story always depends on my audience," Bitton said. "Usually for the little tiny ones, I keep it short and I ask them questions so I don't lose their attention."
At the preschool, Bitton, garbed in a black dress, white collar and hat, told the children she was from England and traveled across the Atlantic Ocean for 60 days with 101 other people on the Mayflower.
She also talked about meeting American Indians, writing up a peace agreement and sharing a Thanksgiving feast.
When Bitton was finished with her story, she gave each child a seashell and some popcorn, asked them to tell each other "happy Thanksgiving" and then asked them what they are thankful for.
"I'm thankful for my family," said Andrew, 4. "My favorite part of the story was about digging for shells, and I like turkey."
Aubrey, 3, said she was going to have the popcorn for Thanksgiving dinner.
Payton, 4, said she was thankful for her black cat, Shadow, and for pumpkin pie.
Bitton continues telling the Thanksgiving story year after year because she wants the children to think about their freedom and blessings.
"I find pleasure in it. Thanksgiving is passed over so quickly, and I want our children to remember their freedom," she said.
"I want them to know they live in a free country where they are free to choose the life they want. I want them to be thankful and to count their blessings. I want them to have gratitude of heart.
"If I can get them thinking about those things, then it was all worth it."
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