[Vision2020] Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

[heirdoug at netscape.net]

     WHEREAS 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 favour;
      AND WHEREAS both Houses of Congress have, by their joint 
committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United 
States a day of publick thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by 
acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of 
Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to 
establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”
      NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 
twenty-sixth day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these 
States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the 
beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; 
that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble 
thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country 
previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold 
mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the 
course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of 
tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;-- for the 
peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish 
Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and 
particularly the national one now lately instituted;-- for the civil 
and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have 
of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;-- and, in general, for all 
the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon 
us.
      And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our 
prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and 
beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable 
us all, whether in publick or private stations, to perform our several 
and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National 
Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a 
Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and 
faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and 
nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us); and to bless 
them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the 
knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of 
science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind 
such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.
      Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the third day of 
October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and 
eighty-nine.


 (signed) G. Washington
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