Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Thanksgiving 2006

Today is Thanksgiving Day in the United States. It's a day set aside for giving thanks for the many blessing we have received. Many families will gather together, many good times will be shared, and many meals will be consumed.

But there are people who don't have families with whom to gather together, who are suffering hardships and having trouble making ends meet, and are cold and hungry. Think about these people. While there are some people that you just can't help, there are many, many more you can. Find a way to help others as you recoginize all the blessings you have received.

And don't forget to give thanks for what you have. Don't worry about what you don't have. The Good Lord has been very kind and gracious to use, allowing us to reap the benefits of living in the United States of America. Let's don't lose sight of that fact.

Thank God for all the things He has placed on this world for us.
Thanksgiving Day, 2006

A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

As Americans gather with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving Day, we give thanks for the many ways that our Nation and our people have been blessed.

The Thanksgiving tradition dates back to the earliest days of our society, celebrated in decisive moments in our history and in quiet times around family tables. Nearly four centuries have passed since early settlers gave thanks for their safe arrival and pilgrims enjoyed a harvest feast to thank God for allowing them to survive a harsh winter in the New World. General George Washington observed Thanksgiving during the Revolutionary War, and in his first proclamation after becoming President, he declared November 26, 1789, a national day of "thanksgiving and prayer." During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln revived the tradition of proclaiming a day of thanksgiving, reminding a divided Nation of its founding ideals.

At this time of great promise for America, we are grateful for the freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution and defended by our Armed Forces throughout the generations. Today, many of these courageous men and women are securing our peace in places far from home, and we pay tribute to them and to their families for their service, sacrifice, and strength. We also honor the families of the fallen and lift them up in our prayers.

Our citizens are privileged to live in the world's freest country, where the hope of the American dream is within the reach of every person. Americans share a desire to answer the universal call to serve something greater than ourselves, and we see this spirit every day in the millions of volunteers throughout our country who bring hope and healing to those in need. On this Thanksgiving Day, and throughout the year, let us show our gratitude for the blessings of freedom, family, and faith, and may God continue to bless America.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 23, 2006, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage all Americans to gather together in their homes and places of worship with family, friends, and loved ones to reinforce the ties that bind us and give thanks for the freedoms and many blessings we enjoy.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-first.

GEORGE W. BUSH


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16 comments:

  1. Random Thanksgiving Roundup and OTP...

    Having already posted our Thanksgiving wishes, and not yet ready to turn things over to the turkey (literally, in this case) to liveblog the Superbowl, I thought I’d share a roundup of Thanksgiving posts and wishes from elsewhere around the &#821...

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  2. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

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  3. [...] Update: Basil has what he’s thankful for in Thanksgiving 2006. [...]

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  4. Happy Thanksgiving...

    We chose as the motto for our farm "In all things give thanks." This year this has been more than just a part of the logo on the side of the truck....

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  5. Happy Thanksgiving...

    If I do it right my children might just sit down 30 years from today and write a story about giving thanks for the way their parents brought them up; perhaps not. But I'll do my best to plant that seed. Having that opportunity is a blessed reminder t...

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  6. Happy Thanksgiving! Pass the Gravy!

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  7. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

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  8. Happy Thanksgiving!...

    This year I will not be alone, thanks to the generosity of a coworker who invited me to join her family at 1400 hours today on the other side of the valley. I spoke with her last evening and offered to bring something to the table, but she insisted tha...

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  9. Happy Thanksgiving!...

    Most of all I'm thankful that while I live there's always hope that I can become a better person and that I can live and love and learn.
    I hope that you have a wonderful holiday and that you too have things to be thankful for....

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  10. Happy Thanksgiving...

    I hope everyone is having a great Thanksgiving. I hope you remember to count your many blessings. Here are some of the things I’m thankful for:

    My two healthy kids, though they were born to a woman who stood them up on Thanksgiving today

    Religi...

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  11. Hope that you and yours had a great Thanksgiving, Basil!

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  12. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. May the coming year bring as many blessings.

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  13. Thanksgiving First Cup 11.23.06...

    ......

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  14. Happy late Thanksgiving. Hope you survived Black Friday and all the eating.

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  15. Hey Basil!

    I know this is a couple of years old, but it's still a great post you wrote here. I just happened across it because I was looking for fun stuff dealing with Thanksgiving.

    What do you think of my fun Thanksgiving song?

    http://www.carrieandjonathan.com/the-turkey-song-gobble-gobble-happy-thanksgiving.html

    Happy Thanksgiving!

    Warmest,

    Jonathan

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