A Thanksgiving message.....

[BoomerCPO]

Thought I would share this message I received in a e-mail a few minutes ago.....

In October of 1863, just a few months after the bloodiest fighting of the Civil War at the Battle of Gettysburg, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation setting aside the last Thursday of November “as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise.”

His proclamation read in part, “In the midst of a civil war of unequaled 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.”

We celebrate Thanksgiving again this year with men and women, husband and wives, sons and daughters, engaged in battle and fighting for our freedom, not on the soil of this country but in distant lands far away from their friends, family and loved ones.

On this day, set aside for giving thanks, we express our gratitude to the warriors who selflessly serve to protect our country and the American way of life. We express our gratitude to their families, who tirelessly support our Service members while their loved ones serve in harm’s way. And we express gratitude to those caregivers who willingly take on the monumental task of assisting our wounded, ill and injured Service members as they travel their own road to recovery.

This holiday season we encourage you to express your own gratitude to our brave men and women in uniform, particularly our wounded warriors. Shake their hands in the airport, take a few minutes to listen to their extraordinary stories. Or, best of all, connect them to employment resources and opportunities that will help facilitate their smooth and productive reintegration to civilian life.

We echo the words of President Lincoln when he said, “I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessing, they do also… commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners and sufferers… 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, tranquility and Union.”

A Happy Thanksgiving to All!

Boomer....with best wishes and respect to all.

[w.steve wells]

thank you Boomer for that post its very true and moving

[barend]

Uuhhhhhhh, Are we talking about the same day? You sure you're not talking about Memorial Day or Veterans Day, because the way I understand it, Thanksgiving Day was celebrated by the first settlers to thank the Indians for helping them survive their near catastrophic first year (of socialism - a dismal failure) and showing them what crops would grow here.

 

'Course, ... I'm just a foreigner, what do I know:confused24::confused24:

 

Anyway, Happy thanksgiving every one! Oh and lest anyone think I would disagree with Boomers text, you'd be wrong

[Pegasus1300]

Actually you are both right.Lincoln did proclaim the last Thursday in Nov as a National Day of Thanksgiving to give thanks for the turning back of the Southern advance and the saving of the Union so yes it is appropriate to thank a past or present service person for their contribution. And yes we do remember the 1st Thanksgiving from back in the day when two very different cultures came together to give thanks to their respective Gods for His blessings and bounty.There have been verious days of thanksgiving proclaimed over the years but in Dec 26 1941 Pres Roosevelt proclaimed and congress fixed by law our current holiday.

 

I just want to take this time to thank Black Owl for tracking us down in the hospital after our wreck and for all of your prayers and well wishes.Cynthia and I believe that they have made a difference in our lives

 

Sorry for hi jacking your thread of giving thanx to our servicemen and women but I wanted you all to know how much we think of you.

Edited November 24, 2011 by Pegasus1300
spelling

[nbowersock]

Thanks Boomer. The holidays are always tough when you're far from home. Little things take on a much bigger meaning and the smallest things bring a sense of normalcy. I don't post much, but I visit as often as I can. Thanks for thinking of us.

 

Nico

Currently in Baghdad, Iraq.

[Squidley]

I like it...Thanks Chief

[Yammer Dan]

Good one Boomer.

 

NICO Thanks!! Be carefull.