Happy Thanksgiving

[ptco911]

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the
blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties,
which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source
from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature,
that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is
habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.
In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity,
which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression,
peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained,
the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed
everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre
has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.
Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry
to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship;
the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of
iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore.
Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp,
the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of
augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with
large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked
out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who,
while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly,
reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People.
I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States,
and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands,
to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next,
as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.
And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him
for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence
for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care
all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife
in which we are unavoidably engaged, and 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,
tranquillity and Union.
It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence
upon the overruling power of God; to confess their sins and transgressions
in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead
to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the
Holy Scriptures and proven by all history,
that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord.



- Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation October 3, 1863

[BloodThirstyWench]

That's awesome!

I have alot to be thankful for this year. The Lord has been good to me even though it's been a tough year. I've learned a great deal and have become a much stronger person. It certainly makes me thankful for what I have.

May God bless everyone as he has me...and especially watch over our men and women in harm's way.

[Woodmonkey]

A good post to start our Thanksgiving celebration off.

Like you, Shelley, I have a lot to be thankful for.

[Snowden]

I pray you all will have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving.

The Lord has blessed me in more ways that I can ever write down - there have been physical healings and miracles, a loving family and friends known personally and those I am finding here all over the world.

I have much to be thankful for.

[conlor]

I also have a lot to be thankful for.

I became a Grammy on Jan 30th for one thing!




This has sound:

Turkey in the Straw - animated Flash ecard by Jacquie Lawson

[TBLady]

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone...


Hope you all have a great Turkey Day!!

Ellen

[sfga6970]

This post brought back memories of when I was CO of HHC 1/37 Armor in Ansbach, Germany. Each year at Thanksgiving all the troops and their dependents (if they had any there) would be invited to our large mess hall for a Thanksgiving dinner. It was like a very large "family" get-together and the younger troops had children around them as they would if they were at home. It was a wonderful experience and something I'll never forget. The cooks kept the meal going all day long and as one group finished they would relieve those on duty to allow them to partake in the meal. A great morale booster for the BN. Good memories.