Crossword puzzle clue "what many have after thanksgiving and a description of the starred answers' gimmick"

What many have after Thanksgiving, and a description of the starred answers' gimmick

Massachusetts school ... and a description of the two-word meeting that occurs at the intersections of pairs of starred answers

1967 war film, and an apt description for this puzzle's starred answers

Former NPR show, or a description of the starred answers

Fighting birds, or an apt description for the starred answers

How many letters are in the longest answers in this puzzle - or how many of these answers there are

Inaccurate information, and what the starred answers have in common

Embarking on something exciting, and a hint regarding what this puzzle's starred answers' endings have in common