Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 124.djvu/4781

 124 STAT. 4755 PROCLAMATION 8606—NOV. 23, 2010 compassion and contributions of Native Americans, whose skill in agri- culture helped the early colonists survive, and whose rich culture con- tinues to add to our Nation’s heritage. We also pause our normal pur- suits 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 democ- racy, 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 prom- ise 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 de- fense, 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 help- ing 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 chal- lenges 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 Con- stitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thurs- day, November 25, 2010, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encour- age all the people of the United States to come together—whether in our homes, places of worship, community centers, or any place of fel- lowship for friends and neighbors—to give thanks for all we have re- ceived 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