“WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour …” . . . So began President George Washington’s Thanksgiving Day Proclamation. On October 3, 1789, President Washington issued our Nation’s first Thanksgiving Day Proclamation (Click here to read the complete original Proclamation). Thus, began a national holiday that has been celebrated in times of peace and in times of war, in times of joy and in times of sadness. Because men and women are standing guard at home and in far off places, Thanksgiving is a day of joyful celebration, family, friends, food and football. Yet, on this day, we should ever be mindful that we are a house divided. So, it’s proper to reflect on President Washington’s reason for our Nation’s first Thanksgiving: “[T]hat we.
