[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 124, 111th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
PROCLAMATION 8606--NOV. 23, 2010

Proclamation 8606 of November 23, 2010
Thanksgiving Day, 2010
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation

A beloved American tradition, Thanksgiving Day offers us the opportunity
to focus our thoughts on the grace that has been extended to our people
and our country. This spirit brought together the newly arrived Pilgrims
and the Wampanoag tribe--who had been living and thriving around
Plymouth, Massachusetts for thousands of years--in an autumn harvest
feast centuries ago. This Thanksgiving Day, we reflect on the

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compassion and contributions of Native Americans, whose skill in
agriculture helped the early colonists survive, and whose rich culture
continues to add to our Nation's heritage. We also pause our normal
pursuits on this day and join in a spirit of fellowship and gratitude
for the year's bounties and blessings.
Thanksgiving Day is a time each year, dating back to our founding, when
we lay aside the troubles and disagreements of the day and bow our heads
in humble recognition of the providence bestowed upon our Nation. Amidst
the uncertainty of a fledgling experiment in democracy, President George
Washington declared the first Thanksgiving in America, recounting the
blessings of tranquility, union, and plenty that shined upon our young
country. In the dark days of the Civil War when the fate of our Union
was in doubt, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a Thanksgiving Day,
calling for ``the Almighty hand'' to heal and restore our Nation.
In confronting the challenges of our day, we must draw strength from the
resolve of previous generations who faced their own struggles and take
comfort in knowing a brighter day has always dawned on our great land.
As we stand at the close of one year and look to the promise of the
next, we lift up our hearts in gratitude to God for our many blessings,
for one another, and for our Nation. This Thanksgiving Day, we remember
that the freedoms and security we enjoy as Americans are protected by
the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces. These
patriots are willing to lay down their lives in our defense, and they
and their families deserve our profound gratitude for their service and
sacrifice.
This harvest season, we are also reminded of those experiencing the
pangs of hunger or the hardship of economic insecurity. Let us return
the kindness and generosity we have seen throughout the year by helping
our fellow citizens weather the storms of our day.
As Americans gather for the time-honored Thanksgiving Day meal, let us
rejoice in the abundance that graces our tables, in the simple gifts
that mark our days, in the loved ones who enrich our lives, and in the
gifts of a gracious God. Let us recall that our forebears met their
challenges with hope and an unfailing spirit, and let us resolve to do
the same.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 25,
2010, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage all the people of
the United States to come together--whether in our homes, places of
worship, community centers, or any place of fellowship for friends and
neighbors--to give thanks for all we have received in the past year, to
express appreciation to those whose lives enrich our own, and to share
our bounty with others.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-third day of
November, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA