[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 129, 114th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9372 of November 20, 2015

Thanksgiving Day, 2015

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Rooted in a story of generosity and partnership, Thanksgiving offers an
opportunity for us to express our gratitude for the gifts we have and to
show our appreciation for all we hold dear. Today, as we give of
ourselves in service to others and spend cherished time with family and
friends, we give thanks for the many blessings bestowed upon us. We also
honor the men and women in uniform who fight to safeguard our country
and our freedoms so we can share occasions like this with loved ones,
and we thank our selfless military families who stand beside and support
them each and every day.
Our modern celebration of Thanksgiving can be traced back to the early
17th century. Upon arriving in Plymouth, at the culmination of months of
testing travel that resulted in death and disease, the Pilgrims
continued to face great challenges. An indigenous people, the Wampanoag,
helped them adjust to their new home, teaching them critical survival
techniques and important crop cultivation methods. After securing a
bountiful harvest, the settlers and Wampanoag joined in fellowship for a
shared dinner to celebrate powerful traditions that are still observed
at Thanksgiving today: lifting one another up, enjoying time with those
around us, and appreciating all that we have.

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Carrying us through trial and triumph, this sense of decency and
compassion has defined our Nation. President George Washington
proclaimed the first Thanksgiving in our country's nascence, calling on
the citizens of our fledgling democracy to place their faith in ``the
providence of Almighty God,'' and to be thankful for what is bequeathed
to us. In the midst of bitter division at a critical juncture for
America, President Abraham Lincoln acknowledged the plight of the most
vulnerable, declaring a ``day of thanksgiving,'' on which all citizens
would ``commend to [God's] tender care'' those most affected by the
violence of the time--widows, orphans, mourners, and sufferers of the
Civil War. A tradition of giving continues to inspire this holiday, and
at shelters and food centers, on battlefields and city streets, and
through generous donations and silent prayers, the inherent selflessness
and common goodness of the American people endures.
In the same spirit of togetherness and thanksgiving that inspired the
Pilgrims and the Wampanoag, we pay tribute to people of every background
and belief who contribute in their own unique ways to our country's
story. Each of us brings our own traditions, cultures, and recipes to
this quintessential American holiday--whether around dinner tables, in
soup kitchens, or at home cheering on our favorite sports teams--but we
are all united in appreciation of the bounty of our Nation. Let us
express our gratitude by welcoming others to our celebrations and
recognize those who volunteer today to ensure a dinner is possible for
those who might have gone without. Together, we can secure our founding
ideals as the birthright of all future generations of Americans.
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 November 26, 2015, 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 fifteen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
fortieth.
BARACK OBAMA