[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 26, 2008)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 72301-72302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-28415]



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Part IX





The President





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Proclamation 8322--Thanksgiving Day, 2008
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  Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 229 / Wednesday, November 26, 2008 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

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                Proclamation 8322 of November 21, 2008

                
Thanksgiving Day, 2008

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Thanksgiving is a time for families and friends to 
                gather together and express gratitude for all that we 
                have been given, the freedoms we enjoy, and the loved 
                ones who enrich our lives. We recognize that all of 
                these blessings, and life itself, come not from the 
                hand of man but from Almighty God.

                Every Thanksgiving, we remember the story of the 
                Pilgrims who came to America in search of religious 
                freedom and a better life. Having arrived in the New 
                World, these early settlers gave thanks to the Author 
                of Life for granting them safe passage to this abundant 
                land and protecting them through a bitter winter. Our 
                Nation's first President, George Washington, stated in 
                the first Thanksgiving proclamation that ``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 
                favor.'' While in the midst of the Civil War, President 
                Abraham Lincoln revived the tradition of proclaiming a 
                day of thanksgiving, asking God to heal our wounds and 
                restore our country.

                Today, as we look back on the beginnings of our 
                democracy, Americans recall that we live in a land of 
                many blessings where every person has the right to 
                live, work, and worship in freedom. Our Nation is 
                especially thankful for the brave men and women of our 
                Armed Forces who protect these rights while setting 
                aside their own comfort and safety. Their courage keeps 
                us free, their sacrifice makes us grateful, and their 
                character makes us proud. Especially during the 
                holidays, our whole country keeps them and their 
                families in our thoughts and prayers. Americans are 
                also mindful of the need to share our gifts with 
                others, and our Nation is moved to compassionate 
                action. We pay tribute to all caring citizens who reach 
                out a helping hand and serve a cause larger than 
                themselves.

                On this day, let us all give thanks to God who blessed 
                our Nation's first days and who blesses us today. May 
                He continue to guide and watch over our families and 
                our country always.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United 
                States, do hereby proclaim November 27, 2008, as a 
                National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage all Americans 
                to gather together in their homes and places of worship 
                with family, friends, and loved ones to strengthen the 
                ties that bind us and give thanks for the freedoms and 
                many blessings we enjoy.

[[Page 72302]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                twenty-first day of November, in the year of our Lord 
                two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
                third.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. E8-28415
Filed 11-25-08; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3195-W9-P