With Thanksgiving coming right up, hear the words of three extraordinary U. S. presidents about
this fine holiday, in their proclamations.
But first, from Microsoft Bing AI, in response to my question: "Give me some U.S. Thanksgiving history":
"President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation on October 3, 1863, declaring the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving. The proclamation marked the culmination of a 36-year crusade to make Thanksgiving a national holiday led by Sarah Josepha Hale. The holiday was annually proclaimed by every president thereafter, and the date chosen, with few exceptions, was the last Thursday in November. President Franklin D. Roosevelt attempted to move the date back a week to boost the economy, but not all states complied, and after a joint resolution of Congress in 1941, Roosevelt issued a proclamation in 1942 designating the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day. George Washington also issued a proclamation in 1789 designating Thursday, November 26 as a national day of thanks."As stated, all of our presidents have during their terms issued proclamations on the celebration of a national day of thanksgiving. Let us note especially the words of:
Washington:
https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?&q=thanksgiving+proclamation+1863&&mid=65cc79cfdd96e252304665cc79cfdd96e2523046&&form=vrdgar Lincoln:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmnggh6nwai and in more modern times (here's the text, couldn't find video),
FDR:
"I, FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, President of the United States of America, do set aside and appoint Thursday the thirtieth day of November 1933, to be a Day of Thanksgiving for all our people.
May we on that day in our churches and in our homes give humble thanks for the blessings bestowed upon us during the year past by Almighty God.
May we recall the courage of those who settled a wilderness, the vision of those who founded the Nation, the steadfastness of those who in every succeeding generation have fought to keep pure the ideal of equality of opportunity and hold clear the goal of mutual help in time of prosperity as in time of adversity.
May we be grateful for the passing of dark days, for the new spirit of dependence one on another, for the closer unity of all parts of our wide land, for the greater friendship between employers and those who toil, for a clearer knowledge by all nations that we seek no conquests and ask only honorable engagements by all people to respect the lands and rights of their neighbors for the brighter day which we can win through seeking the help of God in a more unselfish striving for the bettering of mankind.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
DONE at the City of Washington this twenty-first day of November, in the year of out Lord nineteen hundred and thirty-three and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and fifty-eighth.
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT"Each of these presidents, three of our greatest leaders, gave a proclamation suitable for his own time, whether dealing with war, social and economic challenges, or the beginnings of a nation.
But they all encouraged us to remember our heritage, appreciate what we have been given, and express our gratitude to a supreme being, in thanks for what we have.
May we indeed heed their counsel by doing so.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=%22happy+thanksgiving%22+youtube+&qs=n&sp=-1&lq=0&pq=%22happy+thanksgiving%22+youtube+&sc=11-29&sk=&cvid=a2550985301f4c8aab70fb8fee460702&ghsh=0&ghacc=0&ghpl=&ru=%2Fsearch%3fq%3D%2522happy%2bthanksgiving%2522%2byoutube%2b%26qs%3Dn%26form%3Dqbre%26sp%3D-1%26lq%3D0%26pq%3D%2522happy%2bthanksgiving%2522%2byoutube%2b%26sc%3D11-29%26sk%3D%26cvid%3Da2550985301f4c8aab70fb8fee460702%26ghsh%3D0%26ghacc%3D0%26ghpl%3D&view=detail&mmscn=vwrc&mid=96896617840b5011c79c96896617840b5011c79c&form=wrvorc