The U.S. President issues presidential
proclamations from White House from time to time to address the
citizens of America and the world on every important occasion and
event. The first ever Thanksgiving proclamation that has ever come
to light was read on June 20, 1676 in the governing council of
Charlestown, Massachusetts. It was read by a clerk known as Edward
Rawson, who proclaimed June 29 as a day of thanksgiving. Much later,
George Washington became the first President of America to read out
the historical proclamation that designated November 26 as 'A Day of
Public Thanksgiving and Prayer.'
In this section, we have covered the Thanksgiving Proclamations
issued by the reigning U.S. President George W. Bush during the year
2001 to 2004:
2001:
"Now, in the painful aftermath of the September 11 attacks and
in the midst of our resolute war on terrorism, President
Eisenhower's hopeful words point us to our collective obligation to
defend the enduring principles of freedom that form the foundation
of our Republic.
During these extraordinary times, we find particular assurance from
our Thanksgiving tradition, which reminds us that we, as a people
and individually, always have reason to hope and trust in God,
despite great adversity. "
2002: "As the
Pilgrims did almost four centuries ago, we gratefully give thanks
this year for the beauty, abundance, and opportunity this great land
offers. We also thank God for the blessings of freedom and
prosperity; and, with gratitude and humility, we acknowledge the
importance of faith in our lives.
Throughout the Thanksgiving holiday, let us renew our commitment to
make our country and our world better. As we welcome new
opportunities and face new challenges, we are thankful for the
resolve and generosity of so many of our people who are touching
countless hearts and souls through thoughtful acts of kindness. By
answering the call to serve others, Americans are building a culture
of service that strengthens our Nation."
2003: "America is
a land of abundance, prosperity, and hope. We must never take for
granted the things that make our country great: a firm foundation of
freedom, justice, and equality; a belief in democracy and the rule
of law; and our fundamental rights to gather, speak, and worship
freely.
These liberties do not come without cost. Throughout history, many
have sacrificed to preserve our freedoms and to defend peace around
the world. Today, the brave men and women of our military continue
this noble tradition. These heroes and their loved ones have the
gratitude of our Nation.
On this day, we also remember those less fortunate among us. They
are our neighbors and our fellow citizens, and we are committed to
reaching out to them and to all of those in need in our communities."
2004: "This
Thanksgiving, we express our gratitude to our dedicated firefighters
and police officers who help keep our homeland safe. We are grateful
to the homeland security and intelligence personnel who spend long
hours on faithful watch. And we give thanks for the Americans in our
Armed Forces who are serving around the world to secure our country
and advance the cause of freedom. These brave men and women make our
entire Nation proud, and we thank them and their families for their
sacrifice. "
