George Washington's Presidential Proclamation from 1795 Re: Thanksgiving

This was published in the Columbian Centinel on January 1, 1795.
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Published
BY AUTHORITY,

A PROCLAMATION:
By the PRESIDENT of the UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA.

When we review the calamities, which afflict so many other nations, the present condition of the United States affords much matter of consolation and satisfaction. Our exemption hitherto from foreign war – an increasing prospect of the continuance of that exemption – the great degree of internal tranquility we have enjoyed – the recent confirmation of that tranquility by the suppression of an insurrection which so wantonly threatened it – the happy course of public affairs in general – the unexampled prosperity of all classes of our citizens; are circumstances which peculiarly mark our situation with indications of the Divine beneficence towards us. In such a state of things it is, in an especial manner, our duty as people, with devout reverence and affectionate gratitude, to acknowledge our many and great obligations to Almighty God and to implore Him to continue and confirm the blessings we experience.

Deeply penetrated with this sentiment, I, George Washington, President of the United States, do recommend to all religious societies and denominations, and to all persons whomsoever, within the United States, to set apart and observe Thursday, the nineteenth day of February next, as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer: and on that day to meet together and render their sincere and hearty thanks to the great Ruler of nations for the manifold and signal mercies which distinguish our lot as a nation. particularly for the possession of constitutions of government which unite and, by their union, establish liberty with order; for the preservation of peace, foreign and domestic; and for the seasonable control, which has been given to a spirit of disorder, in the suppression of the late insurrection; and generally for the prosperous course of our affairs, public and private; and, at the same time, humbly and fervently to beseech the kind Author of these blessings. graciously to prolong them to us – to imprint on our hearts a deep and solemn sense of our obligations to Him for them – to teach us rightly to estimate their immense value – to preserve us from the arrogance of prosperity and from hazarding the advantages we enjoy by delusive pursuits – to dispose us to merit the continuance of His favors by not abusing them, by our gratitude for them, and by a correspondent conduct as citizens and as men – to render this country, more and more, a propitious asylum for the unfortunate of other countries – to extend among us true and useful knowledge – to diffuse and establish habits of sobriety, order, morality, and piety – and, finally, to impart all blessings we possess or ask for ourselves, to the whole family of mankind.

In testimony whereof, I have caused the seal of the United States of America, to be affixed to these presents, and signed the same with my hand. Done, at the city of Philadelphia, the first day of January, 1795, and of the independence of the United States of America, the nineteenth.

George Washington, President of the United States
Edmund Randolph, Secretary of State.

Giving Thanks

It’s that time of year again. When we get together with friends and family and stuff ourselves with so much food that we resemble the turkey we’ve just consumed! I’m often amazed at all the time, preparation, and cooking that goes into making this meal so perfect and how quickly it’s over with.

Every year I find myself overwhelmed with making grocery lists, shopping, or if traveling, making sure we have everything we need to make it to where we’re going and back.

As a young child I remembered learning about how the pilgrims and Indians sat down to eat and gave thanks for their many blessings. Every year in elementary school we’d put on skits with some children dressed as pilgrims, some as Indians, and one special child who was given the glorious task of being the turkey! The real excitement to us was having time off from school and getting to eat lots of good food! As kids, we weren’t caught up in the whole 'giving thanks' concept.

As a nation, we are really blessed and dare I say spoiled. We have a tendency to constantly gripe and complain because we want a bigger house, a better car, a better job, more money, and the list goes on and on. It seems as though our happiness is based on what we can obtain and whether we get more of it or not. Now before you get the stones out, I’ve been just as guilty of doing the same thing.

One year in particular I was working at our local hospital in the admissions department and I was grumbling to myself about how bad I had it. Poor little me wanted a new car, a better house, new furniture, a better job etc., and everyone had it better than me. You get the picture. Just think of the old Hee Haw song 'gloom, dispair, and agony on me' and you’d have nailed my mood that day! A moment later a young lady and man came in with an infant in tow. The lady was wearing a paper mask that covered her nose and mouth and after checking in they went to the other side of the waiting room where no one else was. I asked my coworker why the lady had a mask and was told that she had cancer and was undergoing treatment. Fifteen minutes later another lady I’d met the previous week came in and was having a finger amputated because of a spider bite. Later that day a man came in who was having a leg amputated because of diabetes. This is pretty much how the rest of my day went. I’ve found that it’s really hard to feel sorry for yourself in a hospital because you realize very quickly how blessed you really are.

That night I went home and thanked God for so many things that we take for granted like my health, my body parts being whole, for every breath that I am able to take freely without a machine, for the food on my table and a roof over my head, for my family, for my car that is so dependable, for my sense of humor and joy, for clean, hot running water to soak in, for the bargain I got on ground beef at the store, for the freedom to worship where and how I want freely and without persecution. We have so many freedoms and liberties that people in other countries can only dream about and we get so busy with living the American dream that we rarely stop to take time to consider all we do have and to be grateful for it.

This year as you celebrate Thanksgiving, enjoy the time you are able to spend with friends and family and the abundance of food you are fortunate to have, but remember to take a moment as a family and give thanks for all that you have been blessed with. Especially those things that money can't buy.