WCRIS staff are feeling like a bunch turkeys for our historical “fowl” last month.
Thanks to principal James Wegner of St. Paul Lutheran School in Stevens Point, we return to history class for an important lesson.
Our Thanksgiving Current Events reported that Abraham Lincoln was the “founder” of Thanksgiving. But actually he was not the first president to call for a day of thanksgiving.
In fact, George Washington issued a Thanksgiving Proclamation, announcing:
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor– and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.
It was set to be celebrated on Thursday, November 26, 1789.
Thank you, James, for keeping WCRIS on track. We are truly grateful for all of our attentive Current Event readers!
