Thanksgiving Day, 2010

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Title 3--
The President

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 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.