Hoehmtown Happenings

A Thanksgiving Wish

There are several countries that celebrate a holiday where giving thanks is the central theme. However, it is safe to say that “Thanksgiving,” as we know it, is a uniquely American holiday. The famous story of a communal feast between Pilgrims and the Indigenous people celebrating the bounty of the land is well known. The first Thanksgiving tells a story of survival; the pilgrims endured a perilous ocean journey, struggled to provide for themselves, and stood ready to face their first winter in their new home. 

Their ocean voyage was extremely dangerous and the passengers faced terrible disease and death. Upon landing, the conditions they encountered were equally harsh. The settlers had to hunt and forage as they worked expeditiously to build a fort and settlement. Over time, the community found stability and our nation’s future was secured through steady growth. While the true history of Thanksgiving remains a little murky, what is clear is that the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag tribe shared the abundance of an autumn harvest with a feast in 1621. This unique gathering is widely acknowledged to be the first Thanksgiving celebration in the original thirteen colonies.

Over the following 242 years, individual colonies, and then states, held similar celebrations. Still, Thanksgiving Day was not an official holiday. In 1863, during the height of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln decided that a national day of giving thanks would be beneficial to everyone. Thus, Lincoln issued a directive that a “Thanksgiving Day” was to be held each November. In the 1930s, President Franklin Roosevelt designated the fourth Thursday in November as the official Thanksgiving holiday. 

Even hundreds of years later, we can learn so much from understanding the history of this wonderful family holiday. In the midst of great struggle and suffering, both the pilgrims and Lincoln realized the importance of pausing to give thanks for what we have. As the adage goes, living through rough times is often a necessary part of being able to truly appreciate the good times. As we embark upon Thanksgiving 2025, we all have much to be thankful for; and like those early colonists and Lincoln, we also face struggles of our own which help us better appreciate what we have.

On a personal level, I am thankful for my family, my friends, and our beloved Clarkstown community. I love my family traditions, which are cherished and special. Personally, I am delighted that my three children will gather as a family to spend a day together. I am thankful for our military, first responders, and police who stand in harm’s way to serve and protect us both at home and abroad. Finally, I am thankful for all the gifts that a gracious God has bestowed upon us as individuals, as a town, and as a nation.

My wish, in fact my prayer, is that this Thanksgiving will be a time of renewal and gratitude for all of us, individually and collectively, as a community and nation. 

Wishing a happy and Blessed Thanksgiving to all!