Evening star., 1944-11-23
Thanksgiving, 1914

thanksgiving, President Roosevelt
very properly referred to 1914 as a
year of liberation" During the past
twelve months large areas in Italy,
France, Belgium, Holland, Greece
and several other hitherto occupied
countries of Europe have been freed
from the Nazi grip. Meanwhile,
steady progress has been made to-
ward the clearing of the Philippines
and the final and conclusive defeat
of Japan.
The gains thus chronicled are the
fruits Of the genius of the peoples
united in behalf of a peaceful and
orderly world. Nothing has been
won easily. Great numbers of pre-
cious lives have been sacrificed to the
end that "our way of life" might be
preserved from "the threat Of de-
struction." Thousands of men have
been wounded, crippled, blinded in
those battle zones where resistance
has been most difficult to overcome.
Still others have suffered the i'm
pairment Of their health in climates
almost as hostile as armed foes.
Many have perished at sea or in the
air. The fate OF hundreds never
will be known. In solemn reverence
America acknowledges a debt OF
gratitude to her sons which OBJ
viously cannot be paid in any coin.
1t also witnesses to profound
appreciation Of the toll OF literally
millions of girls and women overseas
and at home. The record of the
achievement of the daughters of
America is one of which their
brothers may be proud. For gen.
erations the benefits of the training
and the experience which they have
gained will be discernible in the i'm
proved methods and skills which
they are carrying toward the future.
No suggestion of disbursement
concerning the era that lies before
them is discoverable in their
thought. The postwar period of the
history of the United States ought
to be prosperous if only because of
the valuable contribution which
women and girls already are making
to it.
A new consciousness of national
unity is another development for
which the whole American Nation
should return thanks to kindly
Providence. Such observers as had
anticipated a fusing of popular in
terest and enthusiasm in the COM
mon cause of human emancipation
and progress are being justified from
week to week and month to month
by processes of education to which
all classes and conditions of citizens
are being exposed. People are find
ing each other under the revealing
influence of mutual endeavors, mu-
tual sufferings and mutual victories.
Racial and sectional differences, re-
ligious and philosophical distinc-
tions and especially the barriers of
varying economic circumstances
have been corrected in large part
by reason of natural growth in
elemental fellowship under fire.
1t Is not suggested that the mil
lenn1um has been accomplished.
Neither the war in Europe nor the
war in the Orient as yet has been
brought to triumphal conclusion.
And for a long time after the sur
render of the Axis powers there still
will remain multitude of problems,
some OF them of monumental pro-
portions, to be solved. But the prom
Use OF tomorrow is bright, and today
there surely must be in every loyal
American heart prayer Of thanks
giving for the endowment of intelli-
gence, fortitude, devotion and hope
which is demonstrated in what has
been done and what should follow
from it. The United States ad-
mittedly has paid a heavy price for
the worlds release from oppression
and for its own national integrity,
yet under God there is no unworthy
regret and no selfish complaint.