Presidential Documents

77343 

Federal Register 

Vol. 85, No. 232 

Wednesday, December 2, 2020 

Title 3— 

The President 

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 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 remarkable 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. 

77344 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 232 / Wednesday, December 2, 2020 / Presidential Documents 

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. 

[FR Doc. 2020–26629 

Filed 12–1–20; 8:45 am] 

Billing code 3295–F1–P 


Trump.EPS</GPH>