For the first 74 years of our nations history, the individual states celebrated Thanksgiving Day on various different dates. President Abraham Lincoln was the first President to establish the last Thursday of November as a national Thanksgiving Day to be observed by all states. In his proclamation he, like George Washington and other presidents before him, recognized from whom our blessings come, saying, No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens Here follows the full proclamation: abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/thanks.htm
Posted on: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 01:26:37 +0000
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