Thanksgiving 2022: Gratitude and Service
As we prepare to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday tomorrow, encourage readers to pause once again this year and consider why we observe this important national holiday in the first place.
As the US National Archives’ “Congress Establishes Thanksgiving” website reminds us, “…on September 28, 1789, just before leaving for recess, the first Federal Congress passed a resolution asking that the President of the United States recommend to the nation a day of thanksgiving. A few days later, President George Washington issued a proclamation naming Thursday, November 26, 1789 as a "Day of Publick Thanksgivin" - the first time Thanksgiving was celebrated under the new Constitution. Subsequent presidents issued Thanksgiving Proclamations, but the dates and even months of the celebrations varied. It wasn't until President Abraham Lincoln's 1863 Proclamation that Thanksgiving was regularly commemorated each year on the last Thursday of November….On October 6, 1941, the House passed a joint resolution declaring the last Thursday in November to be the legal Thanksgiving Day. The Senate, however, amended the resolution establishing the holiday as the fourth Thursday, which would take into account those years when November has five Thursdays. The House agreed to the amendment, and President Roosevelt signed the resolution on December 26, 1941, thus establishing the fourth Thursday in November as the Federal Thanksgiving Day holiday.”
As we Americans again come together for this time-honored holiday, encourage us to each take a moment to reflect on the many things we have to be thankful for, including family, friends, colleagues, our Constitution, our shared mission, and our shared core values. I would also urge you to take a moment to extend thanks and appreciation to the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen and women vigilantly standing the watch today and every day around the globe on behalf of our nation.
I personally remain thankful for these and many other things, including the opportunity to serve members of the defense acquisition workforce. Thank you for all you do every day in support of this great nation of ours. On behalf of your DAU colleagues and teammates, wishing you each a Happy Thanksgiving Day 2022!
As the US National Archives’ “Congress Establishes Thanksgiving” website reminds us, “…on September 28, 1789, just before leaving for recess, the first Federal Congress passed a resolution asking that the President of the United States recommend to the nation a day of thanksgiving. A few days later, President George Washington issued a proclamation naming Thursday, November 26, 1789 as a "Day of Publick Thanksgivin" - the first time Thanksgiving was celebrated under the new Constitution. Subsequent presidents issued Thanksgiving Proclamations, but the dates and even months of the celebrations varied. It wasn't until President Abraham Lincoln's 1863 Proclamation that Thanksgiving was regularly commemorated each year on the last Thursday of November….On October 6, 1941, the House passed a joint resolution declaring the last Thursday in November to be the legal Thanksgiving Day. The Senate, however, amended the resolution establishing the holiday as the fourth Thursday, which would take into account those years when November has five Thursdays. The House agreed to the amendment, and President Roosevelt signed the resolution on December 26, 1941, thus establishing the fourth Thursday in November as the Federal Thanksgiving Day holiday.”
As we Americans again come together for this time-honored holiday, encourage us to each take a moment to reflect on the many things we have to be thankful for, including family, friends, colleagues, our Constitution, our shared mission, and our shared core values. I would also urge you to take a moment to extend thanks and appreciation to the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen and women vigilantly standing the watch today and every day around the globe on behalf of our nation.
I personally remain thankful for these and many other things, including the opportunity to serve members of the defense acquisition workforce. Thank you for all you do every day in support of this great nation of ours. On behalf of your DAU colleagues and teammates, wishing you each a Happy Thanksgiving Day 2022!