THE WHITE HOUSE -
Office of the Press Secretary -
For Immediate Release - November 22, 2002
THANKSGIVING
DAY, 2002 BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
In celebration of Thanksgiving Day 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt
wrote, "Rarely has any people enjoyed greater prosperity than
we are now enjoying. For this we render heartfelt and solemn thanks
to the Giver of Good; and we seek to praise Him -- not by words only
-- but by deeds, by the way in which we do our duty to ourselves
and to our fellow men." President Roosevelt's words gracefully
remind us that, as citizens of this great Nation, we have much for
which to be thankful; and his timeless call inspires us to meet our
responsibilities to help those in need and to promote greater understanding
at home and abroad.
As the Pilgrims did almost four centuries ago, we gratefully give
thanks this year for the beauty, abundance, and opportunity this
great land offers. We also thank God for the blessings of freedom
and prosperity; and, with gratitude and humility, we acknowledge
the importance of faith in our lives.
Throughout the Thanksgiving holiday, let us renew our commitment
to make our country and our world better. As we welcome new opportunities
and face new challenges, we are thankful for the resolve and generosity
of so many of our people who are touching countless hearts and souls
through thoughtful acts of kindness. By answering the call to serve
others, Americans are building a culture of service that strengthens
our Nation. We also honor and salute the selfless sacrifice of the
brave men and women of our Armed Forces who are defending our lives
and liberty at home and abroad with skill, honor, and dedication.
This Thanksgiving, we recognize the ties of friendship and respect
that bind us together. And we renew our pledge to uphold the timeless
principles of freedom, equality, and opportunity that have made our
country into a great Nation. By working together, we will continue
to build mutual trust, peace, and hope for all across this land and
around the world.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States
of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution
and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November
28, 2002, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage Americans
to gather in their homes, places of worship, and community centers
to share the spirit of understanding and unity, and of prayer, as
we express our thanks for the many blessings we enjoy. I also encourage
Americans to reach out in friendship to the larger family of humankind.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first
day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand two, and of
the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred
and twenty-seventh.