    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 124, 111th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    PROCLAMATION 8606--NOV. 23, 2010

    Proclamation 8606 of November 23, 2010
    Thanksgiving Day, 2010
    By the President of the United States of America
    A Proclamation

    A beloved American tradition, Thanksgiving Day offers us the opportunity
    to focus our thoughts on the grace that has been extended to our people
    and our country. This spirit brought together the newly arrived Pilgrims
    and the Wampanoag tribe--who had been living and thriving around
    Plymouth, Massachusetts for thousands of years--in an autumn harvest
    feast centuries ago. This Thanksgiving Day, we reflect on the

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    compassion and contributions of Native Americans, whose skill in
    agriculture helped the early colonists survive, and whose rich culture
    continues to add to our Nation's heritage. We also pause our normal
    pursuits on this day and join in a spirit of fellowship and gratitude
    for the year's bounties and blessings.
    Thanksgiving Day is a time each year, dating back to our founding, when
    we lay aside the troubles and disagreements of the day and bow our heads
    in humble recognition of the providence bestowed upon our Nation. Amidst
    the uncertainty of a fledgling experiment in democracy, President George
    Washington declared the first Thanksgiving in America, recounting the
    blessings of tranquility, union, and plenty that shined upon our young
    country. In the dark days of the Civil War when the fate of our Union
    was in doubt, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a Thanksgiving Day,
    calling for ``the Almighty hand'' to heal and restore our Nation.
    In confronting the challenges of our day, we must draw strength from the
    resolve of previous generations who faced their own struggles and take
    comfort in knowing a brighter day has always dawned on our great land.
    As we stand at the close of one year and look to the promise of the
    next, we lift up our hearts in gratitude to God for our many blessings,
    for one another, and for our Nation. This Thanksgiving Day, we remember
    that the freedoms and security we enjoy as Americans are protected by
    the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces. These
    patriots are willing to lay down their lives in our defense, and they
    and their families deserve our profound gratitude for their service and
    sacrifice.
    This harvest season, we are also reminded of those experiencing the
    pangs of hunger or the hardship of economic insecurity. Let us return
    the kindness and generosity we have seen throughout the year by helping
    our fellow citizens weather the storms of our day.
    As Americans gather for the time-honored Thanksgiving Day meal, let us
    rejoice in the abundance that graces our tables, in the simple gifts
    that mark our days, in the loved ones who enrich our lives, and in the
    gifts of a gracious God. Let us recall that our forebears met their
    challenges with hope and an unfailing spirit, and let us resolve to do
    the same.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
    America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
    the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 25,
    2010, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage all the people of
    the United States to come together--whether in our homes, places of
    worship, community centers, or any place of fellowship for friends and
    neighbors--to give thanks for all we have received in the past year, to
    express appreciation to those whose lives enrich our own, and to share
    our bounty with others.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-third day of
    November, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the
    Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
    fifth.
    BARACK OBAMA