Thanksgiving is peeking around the corner at us, and I can only think how time has passed so swiftly this year. We haven't accomplished all that I had planned to do this year although we have gained much ground in our home both socially and academically. While Thanksgiving comes, I have enjoyed all the sights and smells all around us; from the sights of the beautiful red, orange, and yellow leaves on the trees to the smell of the wood smoke from those who have lit fires in their wood heaters or fireplaces. And with this time of year, I try to reflect on all the blessings in my life and to be thankful for each and every blessing.
It seems that I am not the only one thankful during this time of year, and I thought I would type up a Thanksgiving Day Proclamation from the First President of the United States of America, George Washington. It was published in The Massachusetts Centinel on Wednesday, October 14, 1789.
WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of the Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness;"
NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;--for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;--for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;--and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;--to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.
(signed) G. Washington
