Bill Easums Observations

“Wee ordaine that the day of our ships arrival at the place assigned for plantacon in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually keept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty god.” So stated the charter for the British colony known as Berkeley Hundred.  On December 4, 1619 Captain John Woodleaf held the first service of thanksgiving.  Berkeley Plantation continues to be the site of the official annual U.S. Thanksgiving event to this day.

As congress recognized the importance of the Thanksgiving observance, President George Washington issued a national Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1789. He wrote,“Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be—That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks—for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country…for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed…and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions—to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually…To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us—and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.”

We know it’s trite to say it but we have to say it anyway - “Happy Thanksgiving from EBA.”