Thanksgiving 2011: History, Charity and Humor

Happy Thanksgiving!

If you are in the Valley looking for Political wisdom, first I want to say, Thank you.  

And secondly, I'm bringing up the Valley's Charities for the end of the year (Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Christmas).

Let me show you the History of Thanksgiving:

First Thanksgiving at Plymouth by Jennie Brownscombe (1914) 

"In early autumn of 1621, the 53 surviving Pilgrims celebrated their successful harvest, as was the English custom.  During this time, "many of the Indians coming... amongst the rest their great king Massasoit, with some ninety men...
"The Pilgrims did not call this harvest festival a "Thanksgiving,"  although they did give thanks to God.  To them, a Day of Thanksgiving was purely religious.  The first recorded religious Day of Thanksgiving was held in 1623 in response to a providential rainfall.

"The religious day of thanksgiving and the harvest festival evolved into a single event: a yearly Thanksgiving, proclaimed by individual governors for a Thursday in November.  The custom of an annual Thanksgiving celebrating abundance and family spread across America.

"Some presidents proclaimed Thanksgivings, others did not.  Abraham Lincoln began the tradition of an annual national Thanksgiving in 1863.

"Thanksgiving is an enduring symbol from which millions of immigrants have learned "Americanism."  While not all Native Peoples celebrate the day, the story of the Pilgrims and Wampanoag sharing a harvest celebration remains an inspiration to many".

(Thanks to Plymouth Hall for the information) 

President George W. Bush, pardoning "Stars and Stripes,"

I also mentioned Charities; 

New Charity for the Valley is RAINN to help abused women and children. Please donate.

Freedom House, a charity where they are working on helping people become free around the world; Please Donate


And the last Charity is Fisher House, a place for families of Veterans to stay while their child or significant other heals.  Please Donate.

And I mentioned some humor for today.  Enjoy this skit:

Here is the history of the sketch.  

Have a good Thanksgiving!