Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1961-11-11
a PROCLAMATION
THE WHITE HOUSE

1T is good thing to give thanks unto the Lord"
More than three centuries ago. the Pilgrims, after
year OF hardship and peril, humbly and reverenty
set aside special day upon which to give thanks to
God for their preservation and for the good harvest
from the virgin soil upon which they had labored
Grave and unknown dangers remained Yet by their
faith and by their toll they had survived the rgors
OF the harsh New England winter Hence they
paused in their abors to give thanks for the blessings
that had been bestowed upon them by divine Provi-
dence.
This year, as the harvest draws its close and
the year approaches its end, awesome perils again
remain to be faced Yet have as in the past ample
reason to be thankful for the abundance of bless
lngs. We are grateful for the blessings of faith and
health and strength and for the mpershable spiritual
gifts of love and hope We give thanks, too for our
freedom nation for the strength of
and the faith of friends for the beliefs and conf
dence share; for determination to stand
firmly for what believe to be right and to resist
nightly what we believe to be base; and for the
heritage of liberty bequeathed by ancestors
which privileged to preserve for children
and our children's children.
1t is right that should be grateful for the plenty
amidst which live; the productivity of FARMS
the output of our factories the skill of our artisans
and the ingenuity of our inventors But in the midst
Of our thanksgiving, let not be unmindful of the
plight of those in many parts of the world to whom
hunger is stranger and the plight of those millions
more VINO i've WltnOuL the blessings Oh uDeTty ana
freedom. With able to share our material
abundance through our food -for-peace program and
through support of the United Nations freedom
from-hunger campaign. To all we offer the susie
of hope that shall not fail in unceasing
efforts to make this peaceful and prosperous world
for all mankind.
NOW, THEREFORE, /, JOHN F. KENNEDY,
President of the United States of America, in
with the joint resolution of Congress approved
December rs, 1941, which desi gnates the fourth
Thursday in November of each year as Thanksgiving
Day, do hereby proclaim Thursday, the twenty-th
day of November of this year, day of national
thanksgiving
urge all citizens to make this Thanksgiving not
merely holiday from their labors, but rather day
of contemplation l ask the head of each family to
recount to his children the story of the first New
England Thanksgiving thus to impress upon future
generations the heritage of this nation born in toll
in danger in purpose and in the conviction that right
and justice and freedom can through mans efforts
persevere and come to fruition with the blessing of
God.
Let us observe this day with reverence and with
prayer that will rekindle in us the will and show
the way not only to preserve our blessings but also
to extend them to the four corners OF the earth Let
us by our example, as well as by our material aid
assist all peoples of all nations who are striving to
achieve better life in freedom.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, / have hereunto set my
hand and caused the Seal of the United States of
America to be affixed.
DONE at the City Of Washington this twenty
seventh day of October in the year. of Lord
nineteen hundred and sixty and of the lndepend
ence of the United States of America the hundred
and eighty-sxth.
(SEAL) JOHN F. KENNEDY
BY the President:
DEAN RUsK
Secretary Of State