Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 103 Part 3.djvu/1097

 PROCLAMATION 6073—NOV. 17, 1989 103 STAT. 3165 Two hundred years later, we continue to offer thanks to the Almighty— not only for the material prosperity that our Nation enjoys, but also for the blessings of peace and freedom. Our Nation has no greater treas- ures than these. As we pause to acknowledge the kindnesses God has shown to us— and, indeed, His gift of life itself—we do so in a spirit of himiility as well as gratitude. When the United States was still a fledgling democ- racy. President Washington asked the American people to unite in prayer to the "great Lord and Ruler of Nations," in order to: beseech him to pardon our national and other Transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private Stations, to perform our several and relative Duties properly and punctual- ly; to render our national Government a Blessing to all the People, by constantly being a Government of wise, just and constitutional Laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations... and to bless them with good Government, Peace and Concord. Today, we, too, pause on Thanksgiving with humble and contrite hearts, mindful of God's mercy and forgiveness and of our continued need for His protection and guidance. On this day, we also remember that one gives praise to God not only through prayers of Thanksgiving, but also through obedience to His commandments and service to others, especially those less forttmate than ourselves. While some Presidents followed Washington's precedent, and some State Governors did as well. President Lincoln—despite being faced with the dark specter of civil war—renewed the practice of proclaiming a national day of Thanksgiving. This venerable tradition has been sus- tained by every President since then, in times of strife as well as times of peace and prosperity. Today, we continue to offer thanks and praise to our Creator, that "Great Author of every public and private good," for the many bless- ings He has bestowed upon us. In so doing, we recall the timeless words of the 100th Psalm: Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations. NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 23, 1989, as a Na- tional Day of Thanksgiving, and I call upon the American people to gather together in homes and places of worship on that day of thanks to affirm by their prayers and their gratitude the many blessings God has bestowed upon us and our Nation. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seven- teenth day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fourteenth. . GEORGE BUSH Editorial note: For the President's remarks of Nov. 17, 1989, on signing Proclamation 6073, see the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents (vol. 25, p. 1766).

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