    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 134, 116th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Proclamation 10121 of November 25, 2020
    Thanksgiving Day, 2020
    By the President of the United States of America
    A Proclamation
    On Thanksgiving Day, we thank God for the abundant blessings in our
    lives. As we gather with family and friends to celebrate this season of
    generosity, hope, and gratitude, we commemorate America's founding
    traditions of faith, family, and friendship, and give thanks for the
    principles of freedom, liberty, and democracy that make our country
    exceptional in the history of the world.
    This November marks 400 years since the Mayflower and its passengers
    faced the unknown and set sail across the Atlantic Ocean. Propelled by
    hope for a brighter future, these intrepid men and women endured two
    long months at sea, tired and hungry, to arrive in a new world full of
    potential. In the winter weather that greeted their arrival, they lost
    nearly half of their fellow travelers to exposure, disease, and
    starvation. Despite unimaginable hardships, these first Americans
    nevertheless remained firm in their faith and unwavering in their
    commitment to their dreams. They forged friendships with the Wampanoag
    Tribe, fostered a spirit of common purpose among themselves, and trusted
    in God to provide for them. The following year, they celebrated a
    successful harvest alongside their Native American neighbors--the first
    Thanksgiving. This seminal event in the history of our Nation is a
    continual reminder of the power of faith, love, perseverance, prayer,
    and fellowship.
    The Mayflower's arrival to the New World in 1620 also marks the arrival
    of the first seeds of democracy to our land. Absent the rule of a

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    monarch in an uncharted wilderness, these early settlers resolved to
    create their own government through what is known as the Mayflower
    Compact. Defined by majority rule through elected leaders responsible
    for creating ``just and equal laws,''; the Mayflower Compact represents
    the first chapter in the long tradition of self-determination and rule
    of law in America. One hundred and fifty-six years later, our Nation's
    Founding Fathers resolved to break free from England, building upon the
    Mayflower Compact to establish an enduring government whose authority
    came solely ``from the consent of the governed.'';
    This year, as our Nation continues to combat the coronavirus pandemic,
    we have once again joined together to overcome the challenges facing us.
    In the midst of suffering and loss, we are witnessing the re-
    markable courage and boundless generosity of the American people as they
    come to the aid of those in need, reflecting the spirit of those first
    settlers who worked together to meet the needs of their community. First
    responders, medical professionals, essential workers, neighbors, and
    countless other patriots have served and sacrificed for their fellow
    Americans, and the prayers of our people have once again lifted up our
    Nation, providing comfort, healing, and strength during times of
    uncertainty. Despite unprecedented challenges, we have not faltered in
    the face of adversity. To the contrary, we have leveraged our strengths
    to make significant breakthroughs that will end this crisis, rebuilding
    our stockpiles, revamping our manufacturing capabilities, and developing
    groundbreaking therapeutics and life-saving vaccines on record-
    shattering timeframes.
    During this season of gratitude, we also acknowledge those who cannot be
    with their families. This includes the brave American patriots of our
    Armed Forces who selflessly defend our sacred liberty at home and
    abroad. And we pause to remember the sacrifices of our law enforcement
    personnel and first responders. We are deeply grateful for all those who
    remain on watch over the holidays and keep us safe as we celebrate and
    give thanks for the blessings in our lives.
    This Thanksgiving, we reaffirm our everlasting gratitude for all that we
    enjoy, and we commemorate the legacy of generosity bestowed upon us by
    our forbearers. Although challenges remain, we will never yield in our
    quest to live up to the promise of our heritage. As we gather with our
    loved ones, we resolve with abiding faith and patriotism to celebrate
    the joys of freedom and cherish the hope and peace of a brighter future
    ahead.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, 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 26,
    2020, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage all Americans to
    gather, in homes and places of worship, to offer a prayer of thanks to
    God for our many blessings.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth day of
    November, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty, and of the
    Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
    fifth.
    DONALD J. TRUMP