A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
Thanksgiving is a time for families and friends to gather together and express gratitude for all that we have been given, the freedoms we enjoy, and the loved ones who enrich our lives. We recognize that all of these blessings, and life itself, come not from the hand of man but from Almighty God.
Every Thanksgiving, we remember the story of the Pilgrims who came to America in search of religious freedom and a better life. Having arrived in the New World, these early settlers gave thanks to the Author of Life for granting them safe passage to this abundant land and protecting them through a bitter winter. Our Nation's first President, George Washington, stated in the first Thanksgiving proclamation that "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 favor." While in the midst of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln revived the tradition of proclaiming a day of thanksgiving, asking God to heal our wounds and restore our country.
Today, as we look back on the beginnings of our democracy, Americans recall that we live in a land of many blessings where every person has the right to live, work, and worship in freedom. Our Nation is especially thankful for the brave men and women of our Armed Forces who protect these rights while setting aside their own comfort and safety. Their courage keeps us free, their sacrifice makes us grateful, and their character makes us proud. Especially during the holidays, our whole country keeps them and their families in our thoughts and prayers.
Americans are also mindful of the need to share our gifts with others, and our Nation is moved to compassionate action. We pay tribute to all caring citizens who reach out a helping hand and serve a cause larger than themselves.
On this day, let us all give thanks to God who blessed our Nation's first days and who blesses us today. May He continue to guide and watch over our families and our country always.
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 November 27, 2008, 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 strengthen 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 twenty-first day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.
GEORGE W. BUSH
Thanksgiving Day Proclamation
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Nearly half a century ago, President Dwight Eisenhower proclaimed Thanksgiving as a time when
Americans should celebrate "the plentiful yield of our soil . . . the beauty of our land . . . the
preservation of those ideals of liberty and justice that form the basis of our national life, and the hope
of international peace." Now, in the painful aftermath of the September 11 attacks and in the midst of
our resolute war on terrorism, President Eisenhower's hopeful words point us to our collective
obligation to defend the enduring principles of freedom that form the foundation of our
Republic.
During these extraordinary times, we find particular assurance from our Thanksgiving tradition,
which reminds us that we, as a people and individually, always have reason to hope and trust in God,
despite great adversity. In 1621 in New England, the Pilgrims gave thanks to God, in whom they
placed their hope, even though a bitter winter had taken many of their brethren. In the winter of 1777,
General George Washington and his army, having just suffered great misfortune, stopped near Valley
Forge, Pennsylvania, to give thanks to God. And there, in the throes of great difficulty, they found the
hope they needed to persevere. That hope in freedom eventually inspired them to victory.
In 1789, President Washington, recollecting the countless blessings for which our new Nation should
give thanks, declared the first National Day of Thanksgiving. And decades later, with the Nation
embroiled in a bloody civil war, President Abraham Lincoln revived what is now an annual tradition
of issuing a presidential proclamation of Thanksgiving. President Lincoln asked God to "heal the
wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the
full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity, and Union."
As we recover from the terrible tragedies of September 11, Americans of every belief and heritage
give thanks to God for the many blessings we enjoy as a free, faithful, and fair-minded land. Let us
particularly give thanks for the self-less sacrifices of those who responded in service to others after
the terrorist attacks, setting aside their own safety as they reached out to help their neighbors. Let us
also give thanks for our leaders at every level who have planned and coordinated the myriad of
responses needed to address this unprecedented national crisis. And let us give thanks for the
millions of people of faith who have opened their hearts to those in need with love and prayer,
bringing us a deeper unity and stronger resolve.
In thankfulness and humility, we acknowledge, especially now, our dependence on One greater than
ourselves. On this day of Thanksgiving, let our thanksgiving be revealed in the compassionate
support we render to our fellow citizens who are grieving unimaginable loss; and let us reach out
with care to those in need of food, shelter, and words of hope. May Almighty God, who is our refuge
and our strength in this time of trouble, watch over our homeland, protect us, and grant us patience,
resolve, and wisdom in all that is to come.
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 22, 2001, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage Americans to
assemble in their homes, places of worship, or community centers to reinforce ties of family and
community, express our profound thanks for the many blessings we enjoy, and reach out in true
gratitude and friendship to our friends around the world.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of November, in the year
of our Lord two thousand one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two
hundred and twenty-sixth.
GEORGE W. BUSH
