Thanksgiving Day, 2013

Proclamation 9063 of November 26, 2013

Thanksgiving Day, 2013

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Thanksgiving offers each of us the chance to count our
many blessings--the freedoms we enjoy, the time we
spend with loved ones, the brave men and women who
defend our Nation at home and abroad. This tradition
reminds us that no matter what our background or
beliefs, no matter who we are or who we love, at our
core we are first and foremost Americans.

Our annual celebration has roots in centuries-old
colonial customs. When we gather around the table, we
follow the example of the Pilgrims and Wampanoags, who
shared the fruits of a successful harvest nearly 400
years ago. When we offer our thanks, we mirror those
who set aside a day of prayer. And when we join with
friends and neighbors to alleviate suffering and make
our communities whole, we honor the spirit of President
Abraham Lincoln, who called on his fellow citizens to
``fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty
hand to heal the wounds of the nation, and to restore
it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine
purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony,
tranquility, and union.''

Our country has always been home to Americans who
recognize the importance of giving back. Today, we
honor all those serving our Nation far from home. We
also thank the first responders and medical
professionals who work through the holiday to keep us
safe, and we acknowledge the volunteers who dedicate
this day to those less fortunate.

This Thanksgiving Day, let us forge deeper connections
with our loved ones. Let us extend our gratitude and
our compassion. And let us lift each other up and
recognize, in the oldest spirit of this tradition, that
we rise or fall as one Nation, under God.

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
28, 2013, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I
encourage the people of the United States to join
together--whether in our homes, places of worship,
community centers, or any place of fellowship for
friends and neighbors--and give thanks for all we have
received in the past year, express appreciation to
those whose lives enrich our own, and share our bounty
with others.

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