Thanksgiving Day, 2018

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 9827 of November 20, 2018

Thanksgiving Day, 2018

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

On Thanksgiving Day, we recall the courageous and
inspiring journey of the Pilgrims who, nearly four
centuries ago, ventured across the vast ocean to flee
religious persecution and establish a home in the New
World. They faced illness, harsh conditions, and
uncertainty, as they trusted in God for a brighter
future. The more than 100 Pilgrims who arrived at
Plymouth, Massachusetts, on the Mayflower, instilled in
our Nation a strong faith in God that continues to be a
beacon of hope to all Americans. Thanksgiving Day is a
time to pause and to reflect, with family and friends,
on our heritage and the sacrifices of our forebearers
who secured the blessings of liberty for an
independent, free, and united country.

After surviving a frigid winter and achieving their
first successful harvest in 1621, the Pilgrims set
aside 3 days to feast and give thanks for God's
abundant mercy and blessings. Members of the Wampanoag
tribe--who had taught the Pilgrims how to farm in New
England and helped them adjust and thrive in that new
land--shared in the bounty and celebration. In
recognition of that historic event, President George
Washington, in 1789, issued a proclamation declaring
the first national day of thanksgiving. He called upon
the people of the United States to unite in rendering
unto God our sincere and humble gratitude ``for his
kind care and protection of the People of this
Country'' and ``the favorable interpositions of his
Providence.'' President Abraham Lincoln revived this
tradition as our fractured Nation endured the horrors
of the Civil War. Ever since, we have set aside this
day to give special thanks to God for the many
blessings, gifts, and love he has bestowed on us and
our country.

This Thanksgiving, as we gather in places of worship
and around tables surrounded by loved ones, in humble
gratitude for the bountiful gifts we have received, let
us keep in close memory our fellow Americans who have
faced hardship and tragedy this year. In the spirit of
generosity and compassion, let us joyfully reach out in
word and deed, and share our time and resources
throughout our communities. Let us also find ways to
give to the less fortunate--whether it be in the form
of sharing a hearty meal, extending a helping hand, or
providing words of encouragement.

We are especially reminded on Thanksgiving of how the
virtue of gratitude enables us to recognize, even in
adverse situations, the love of God in every person,
every creature, and throughout nature. Let us be
mindful of the reasons we are grateful for our lives,
for those around us, and for our communities. We also
commit to treating all with charity and mutual respect,
spreading the spirit of Thanksgiving throughout our
country and across the world.

Today, we particularly acknowledge the sacrifices of
our service members, law enforcement personnel, and
first responders who selflessly serve and protect our
Nation. This Thanksgiving, more than 200,000 brave
American patriots will spend the holiday overseas, away
from their loved ones. Because of the men and women in
uniform who volunteer to defend our liberty, we are
able to enjoy the splendor of the American life. We
pray for their safety, and for the families who await
their return.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, 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
22, 2018, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I
encourage all Americans to gather, in homes and places
of worship, to offer a prayer of thanks to God for our
many blessings.

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