Thanksgiving 2008

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 sasety 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.

Read in full, here, George Washington’s Thanksgiving Day Proclamation given at the birth of a nation’s existence and the dawn of an exceptional experiment in democracy.

We’ve got a scheduled post for later on today so unless irresistible inspiration hits us, we’ll be shutting it down for a roadie up to Orange County. If you are out on the road today, please be safe and everyone have a happy Thanksgiving.

P.S. Almost forgot…take the Indians and the 3-1/2 pts. in the Pilgrims' backyard this afternoon.