Thanksgiving Day, 2021

___________________________________________________________________

Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 10314 of November 24, 2021

Thanksgiving Day, 2021

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Thanksgiving provides us with a time to reflect on our
many blessings--from God, this Nation, and each other.
We are grateful for these blessings, even--and
especially--during times of challenge.

That is why George Washington declared a day of
Thanksgiving for his troops as they marched into that
dark winter at Valley Forge. It is why in the midst of
the Civil War--in proclaiming the Thanksgiving holiday
we now celebrate today--Abraham Lincoln urged us to
remember our ``fruitful fields and healthful skies.''
Just as 400 years ago when the Pilgrims were able to
celebrate a successful first harvest thanks to the
generosity and support of the Wampanoag, today we too
express our gratitude for those who have helped us get
through this difficult past year.

We are grateful for the farm workers and frontline
workers, many of whom are immigrants, who make sure our
food is harvested and shipped, keep our grocery stores
stocked, and keep our cities and towns clean and safe.

We are grateful for the educators who are welcoming
children back into their classrooms, helping them make
up for lost learning and lost time, both academically
and socially.

We are grateful for the parents who have carried their
families through this challenging time, helping their
children navigate this difficult chapter in our
Nation's history.

We are grateful for the health care professionals
working to vaccinate our Nation, the nurses who comfort
and help people, and the doctors who provide care and
compassion.

We are grateful for the researchers and scientists who
have developed safe and effective vaccines and
treatments, allowing us to safely enjoy a Thanksgiving
this year with more family around the table.

As always, we are grateful for our troops serving far
from home, keeping us safe and defending our values.

For the First Lady and me, Thanksgiving has always been
a cherished time to enjoy annual traditions that have
evolved into sacred rituals with our children and
grandchildren: throwing the football, preparing family
recipes, lighting candles, and setting the table. For
many Americans, this Thanksgiving will be the first
time gathering with loved ones in person since the
start of the pandemic--a time of full tables and full
hearts.

As we celebrate, we will also be thinking of the many
families feeling the pain of an empty chair at the
Thanksgiving table. You are not alone, and our Nation
stands with you.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., 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, 2021, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I
encourage the people of the United States of America to
join together and give thanks for the friends,
neighbors, family members, and strangers who have
supported each other over the past year in a reflection
of goodwill and unity.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-fourth day of November, in the year of our Lord
two thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and forty-
sixth.