The Western news., 1947-11-27

was one wild turkey after another
roasted to a beautiful brown. Sur
rounding the turkeys was corn-s
wild corn, that the Indians had
taught the Pilgrims to raise. Also
on this table were vegetables, dried
fruits. even our famous onions at
Thanksgiving time-and nuts Of all
descriptions. We follow to a cer-
tain extent that custom, turkey
maybe a little more tame; corn@it
may be candy corn; creamed onions,
nuts; and we should be of the same
minds too, our hearts should be full
/ Of thanks and gratitude for the
bounties we enjoy, and be CRATE
/ ful 70 the Pilgrim Fathers who made
/ this tradition possible.
Not until 1886 was there a
4 Thanksgiving Day as we know II
now Church services in the NOR
ming, followed by feasts-the poorer
sort being asked to the homes of
the richer ones. The tradition
spread throughout the colonists un-
til Washington, as President of the
new United States, proclaimed
Thanksgiving Day, but its spread
TO southern and western states was
gradual, the custom being observed
mostly in New England. Abraham
Lincoln, in the year 1853, during
the Civil War, gave the most fa-
nous proclamation perhaps of all |
times. And by inserting the words |
World War IT. instead of Civil |
War" that Proclamation could bel
Just as famous and popular today.
In this proclamation he called upon
all citizens to pray for a unity of
states, and today we should be
praying for a unity of nations. Lin
coin asked for prayers for those
in foreign lands, those at battle
front, all guarding their country,
and for pity and mercy for the
widows orphans and sufferers
there are many such people of World
War II. The next year Lincoln pro-
claimed the fourth Thursday of
November as Thanksgiving followed
the next year with the last Thurs
day in November as THANKSGIVING
Day. AS we all know. today, the
President first gives the proclama-
ton, followed by the governors of !
the different states
And so let's on this THANKSGIVING r
Day be thoughtful and we should !
be grateful, not in vain glory or
f-satisfaction, but for the essen
-ial things of life. We must be
grateful TO those who before us
made this country and fought for !.
t, who heWed it out of the wilder
less and sowed it with the wheat
If freedom. We are grateful to all d
Americans of all kinds, sorts and y
,eliefs, who stood up and resented =
INJUSTICE from the very first plant :
ngs until now.
We are grateful for the great =
nen. present and past, who have =,
isen from our earth and led us. y
And to the many whose names are -
Tot in the histories; but, for whose =
aughter and courage, endurance =.
nd resolution, all our history -
would have been in vain. -
We must be grateful to our land :,
-self; not just for its material re-
ources, or the plenty of its fields, \;
ut for its vast diversity under the q
reat bond of union. We are proud =
{ our Connecticut elm, our Geor- -
ian pine, the big stars over Texas, =
ne bread of the Middle West, and =,
or our goreous scenic beauty from ~
past to coast. We are grateful for h.
ur belief that we can get along az
'gether, for we believe that those ~
no would confuse and divide us
18th counselS of class-hatred, race. RI
aired, despair and defeat, know w
OF the temper of the American
sople.
We pay tribute and pray for those WI
no guard the farflung Outposts of II;
III nation, the lonely men on our sic
lips at sea, the high patrols of be
le air-to all those who keep
Iard we are most grateful. But So
ost of all we are grateful under on
cd for the spirit that walks abroad on
this land of ours; for the spirit to
at made US and keeps us free. It
327 years since those first men Nc
me here for freedom. The de- Dc
ocracy we cherish is the work of lui
any years and many men. ley
And so on this Thanksgiving Day,
Id every Thanksgiving Day, let fit
give thanks, not for the things Q
the easy years, but for the land
e cherish, the way of life we en-
NOR and the freedom we shall sol
aintain-all made possible by the COZ
lgrim Fathers who also created a
Id made possible Our First VIC
lanksgiving Heavenly Father cor
lp us to strive to know and to
uch the great common human 10
art of us all, and o Lord God, ~
us forget not to be kind" ]
- pAVFpc HTOTTrr ual
-S ma
The first half of l947 taxes are EN-