Milford chronicle., 1949-11-25
TODAY GIVE THANKS FOR OUR
FREEDOMS
Here is Thanksgiving Dav. 1919.

Here is Thanksgiving Day, 1949.
Since the Pilgrims first celebrated with
prayer and feasting the day of gratitude to
Almighty God for the blessings they had
found in new world, this has been q time
devoted to recognition of the things which
have brought us happiness as individuals and
greatness as nation.
Each year, there is link with the past
forged OF the principle of freedom sought by
the Pllgrlms, and OF ever greater meaning
throughout our history.
Each year, too, there are new blessings to
be thankful for, new benefits growing from
the firm beliefs which animated our fore
fathers on the first Thanksgiving Day.
AS we reflect on our reasons, this year.
for expressing our gratitude, many come in
stantly to mind. We have a prosperity un-
dreamed of a few short years ago. bringing
new progress in the fight against individual
want and suffering. We have survived one
war, and we face the troubled future still
hopeful that we can avert another.
But look all around us, and we can see one
reason. above all others, why we should be
more than ever grateful for the privilege of
living in America this year
Elsewhere, the world still struggles to
emerge from wars devastation and economic
dislocation. Here, spared the physical dam
age OF war, we have again turned loose enor-
nous productive forces to supply the things
we, and the whole world, need.
The abundance. we eniOvl is without par
alel in other countries. While we have march
ed forward toward the goal of meeting the
wants of all the people, other nations, follow
ing other principles, have fallen behind
What have we here which other nations
lack, or possess only in greatly diminished
measures?
Today, as in the davs of the Pilgrims, it
is freedom, and the determination to keep
In large areas Of the world the forces of
freedom are in retreat. A new totalitarian
power, crushing the rights of individuals, has
Overrun many countries, and, threatens
others. Even nations defending liberty are
sacrificing liberty in the process,
But America, founded on the principle of
human freedom and unyielding in it's devo-
tion to it, has become more than an island of
liberty in world where individuals rights
are under assault. It has become the arsenal
of freedom.
We may be thankful that the abundance
our system of political and economic freedom
has produced does more than satisfy our own
needs. 1t has enabled us, with food and ma
terials and machines to bolster the cause of
freedom everywhere.
Thanksgiving Day is a time of sharing.
When we sit down to our feasts of turkey and
cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie and all the
traditional fiXings, we do more than pay trib-
ute to these symbols of our Nations Bounty.
The more fortunate share with those less for
tunate.
And the Nation, too, is sharing. with other
less favored nations, its wealth and resources
and its ideals.
The principle of freedom for which the
Pilgrims endured great hardshipS with for
titude and courage is no less meaningfUl to-
day They sought the right to worship as
they pleased, to hold their own opinions. to
live work and raise families free of dictator
ial authority.
Our world is more complex. but the essen
tial principles remain. Enjoying the fruits
Of freedom. we should he soberlv grateful for
the Divine Guidance which makes it possible
Ard each of us, in his own wav. should
offer thanks. too. for the freedom which from
the time Of the Pilgrims to the present. has
been the foundation of Americas greatness
and our own physical and spiritual well-be-
ing.