NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. –
This year marks the 400th anniversary of the Plymouth colonists’ celebration of a harrowing but fruitful first year in America thanks to the aid of the Wampanoag and Pawtuxet tribes, and 158 years since, in the midst of a Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday of November "as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise" following a significant Union victory at Gettysburg.
While the blessings we celebrate each Thanksgiving may vary throughout the years, there is a common thread that allows us to continue to gather with our families and friends; that thread is freedom.
As we celebrate the holiday with our own traditions and customs, I ask that you keep our men and women serving around the world defending our Nation and way of life in your hearts and prayers. Remember both the bonds that tie us together and the sacrifices our warfighters make to defend our way of life.
Thank you for the dedication and resiliency you demonstrate each day. Mr. Knight and I extend our warmest Thanksgiving wishes to you and your loved ones and ask you to continue to be cautious and follow CDC and local COVID guidelines for gatherings.