Show Thanksgiving Thanksgiving- An A American merican Day a aRY By RY RA RAYMOND YMOND PITCAIRN IRN National Chairman t nr of o othe the hI Republic Thanksgiving is recognized as one of the mos most characteristic and appropriate of ot all our American National Holidays Why Probably because the American people through the period of ot their nations nation's existence have had more to tobe tobe tobe be thankful for tor than the people of ot any other land Not in the material sense alone The pioneers who celebrated our first Thanksgiving Day expressed gratitude not only for tor bountiful harvests but also for tor the freedom with which Divine Providence had rewarded their courage and labors That spirit endures Every Presidential Presidential proclamation of or a Day of National Thanksgiving h has s sounded the same note of r reverence Thus through the years Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Thanks Thanks- giving Day has become not only a national expression of gratitude but buta a re-dedication re to the spirit which lived in its strong and valiant founders The seeds of ot freedom sown by them have hare borne borne a harvest more bountiful than their own crops Our reasons for national gratitude have grown not grown not diminished They gave thanks for fruitful harvests we for a bountiful supply not only of the necessities of life but of comforts far beyond their modest aspirations They gave thanks for liberty to worship as they chose We give thanks not only for freedom of religion reli gion cion but for freedom of ot speech and of ot action and of ot opportunity as welL Many nations cannot do this to to- to day The iron hand of Dictatorship or the red blight of Communism the terrors of war from without or within within all all have robbed them of the security and the liberties which our fathers established as an American birthright Our duty Is not limited to appreciation appreciation clation however grateful of ot these blessings It Involves their preservation tion as M welL |