[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 126, 112th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
PROCLAMATION 8908--NOV. 20, 2012

Proclamation 8908 of November 20, 2012

Thanksgiving Day, 2012

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

On Thanksgiving Day, Americans everywhere gather with family and friends
to recount the joys and blessings of the past year. This day is a time
to take stock of the fortune we have known and the kindnesses we have
shared, grateful for the God-given bounty that enriches our lives. As
many pause to lend a hand to those in need, we are also reminded of the
indelible spirit of compassion and mutual responsibility that has
distinguished our Nation since its earliest days.
Many Thanksgivings have offered opportunities to celebrate community
during times of hardship. When the Pilgrims at Plymouth Colony gave
thanks for a bountiful harvest nearly four centuries ago, they enjoyed
the fruits of their labor with the Wampanoag tribe--a people who had
shared vital knowledge of the land in the difficult months before. When
President George Washington marked our democracy's first Thanksgiving,
he prayed to our Creator for peace, union, and plenty through the trials
that would surely come. And when our Nation was


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torn by bitterness and
civil war, President Abraham Lincoln reminded us that we were, at heart,
one Nation, sharing a bond as Americans that could bend but would not
break. Those expressions of unity still echo today, whether in the
contributions that generations of Native Americans have made to our
country, the Union our forebears fought so hard to preserve, or the
providence that draws our families together this season.
As we reflect on our proud heritage, let us also give thanks to those
who honor it by giving back. This Thanksgiving, thousands of our men and
women in uniform will sit down for a meal far from their loved ones and
the comforts of home. We honor their service and sacrifice. We also show
our appreciation to Americans who are serving in their communities,
ensuring their neighbors have a hot meal and a place to stay. Their
actions reflect our age-old belief that we are our brothers' and
sisters' keepers, and they affirm once more that we are a people who
draw our deepest strength not from might or wealth, but from our bonds
to each other.
On Thanksgiving Day, individuals from all walks of life come together to
celebrate this most American tradition, grateful for the blessings of
family, community, and country. Let us spend this day by lifting up
those we love, mindful of the grace bestowed upon us by God and by all
who have made our lives richer with their presence.
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 22,
2012, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage the people of the
United States to join together--whether in our homes, places of worship,
community centers, or any place of fellowship for friends and
neighbors--and give thanks for all we have received in the past year,
express appreciation to those whose lives enrich our own, and share our
bounty with others.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of
November, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
seventh.
BARACK OBAMA