81 FR 86553 - Thanksgiving Day, 2016

Executive Office of the President

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 230 (November 30, 2016)

Page Range		86553-86554
FR Document		2016-28941

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 230 (Wednesday, November 30, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 230 (Wednesday, November 30, 2016)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 86553-86554]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28941]



[[Page 86551]]

Vol. 81

Wednesday,

No. 230

November 30, 2016

Part V





The President





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Proclamation 9546--Thanksgiving Day, 2016


                        Presidential Documents 



Federal Register / Vol. 81 , No. 230 / Wednesday, November 30, 2016 / 
Presidential Documents

___________________________________________________________________

Title 3--
The President

[[Page 86553]]

                Proclamation 9546 of November 23, 2016

                
Thanksgiving Day, 2016

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Nearly 400 years ago, a small band of Pilgrims fled 
                persecution and violence and came to this land as 
                refugees in search of opportunity and the freedom to 
                practice their faith. Though the journey was rough and 
                their first winter harsh, the friendly embrace of an 
                indigenous people, the Wampanoag--who offered gracious 
                lessons in agriculture and crop production--led to 
                their successful first harvest. The Pilgrims were 
                grateful they could rely on the generosity of the 
                Wampanoag people, without whom they would not have 
                survived their first year in the new land, and together 
                they celebrated this bounty with a festival that lasted 
                for days and prompted the tradition of an annual day of 
                giving thanks.

                This history teaches us that the American instinct has 
                never been to seek isolation in opposite corners; it is 
                to find strength in our common creed and forge unity 
                from our great diversity. On that very first 
                thanksgiving celebration, these same ideals brought 
                together people of different backgrounds and beliefs, 
                and every year since, with enduring confidence in the 
                power of faith, love, gratitude, and optimism, this 
                force of unity has sustained us as a people. It has 
                guided us through times of great challenge and change 
                and allowed us to see ourselves in those who come to 
                our shores in search of a safer, better future for 
                themselves and their families.

                On this holiday, we count our blessings and renew our 
                commitment to giving back. We give thanks for our 
                troops and our veterans--and their families--who give 
                of themselves to protect the values we cherish; for the 
                first responders, teachers, and engaged Americans who 
                serve their communities; and for the chance to live in 
                a country founded on the belief that all of us are 
                created equal. But on this day of gratitude, we are 
                also reminded that securing these freedoms and 
                opportunities for all our people is an unfinished task. 
                We must reflect on all we have been afforded while 
                continuing the work of ensuring no one is left out or 
                left behind because of who they are or where they come 
                from.

                For generations, our Nation's progress has been carried 
                forward by those who act on the obligations we have to 
                one another. Each year on Thanksgiving, the 
                selflessness and decency of the American people surface 
                in food banks and shelters across our country, in time 
                spent caring for the sick and the stranger, and in 
                efforts to empathize with those with whom we disagree 
                and to recognize that every individual is worthy of 
                compassion and care. As we gather in the company of our 
                friends, families, and communities--just as the 
                Pilgrims and the Wampanoag did centuries ago--let us 
                strive to lift up others, promote tolerance and 
                inclusiveness, and give thanks for the joy and love 
                that surround all of us.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim November 24, 2016, as 
                a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage the people 
                of the United States to join together--whether in our 
                homes, places of worship, community centers, or any 
                place of fellowship for friends and neighbors--and give

[[Page 86554]]

                thanks for all we have received in the past year, 
                express appreciation to those whose lives enrich our 
                own, and share our bounty with others.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                twenty-third day of November, in the year of our Lord 
                two thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                first.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2016-28941
Filed 11-29-16; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F7-P

$86553 Federal Register Presidential Documents Vol. 81, No. 230 Wednesday, November 30, 2016 Title 3— Proclamation 9546 of November 23, 2016 The President Thanksgiving Day, 2016 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Nearly 400 years ago, a small band of Pilgrims fled persecution and violence and came to this land as refugees in search of opportunity and the freedom to practice their faith. Though the journey was rough and their first winter harsh, the friendly embrace of an indigenous people, the Wampanoag— who offered gracious lessons in agriculture and crop production—led to their successful first harvest. The Pilgrims were grateful they could rely on the generosity of the Wampanoag people, without whom they would not have survived their first year in the new land, and together they celebrated this bounty with a festival that lasted for days and prompted the tradition of an annual day of giving thanks. This history teaches us that the American instinct has never been to seek isolation in opposite corners; it is to find strength in our common creed and forge unity from our great diversity. On that very first thanksgiving celebration, these same ideals brought together people of different back- grounds and beliefs, and every year since, with enduring confidence in the power of faith, love, gratitude, and optimism, this force of unity has sustained us as a people. It has guided us through times of great challenge and change and allowed us to see ourselves in those who come to our shores in search of a safer, better future for themselves and their families. On this holiday, we count our blessings and renew our commitment to giving back. We give thanks for our troops and our veterans—and their families—who give of themselves to protect the values we cherish; for the first responders, teachers, and engaged Americans who serve their commu- nities; and for the chance to live in a country founded on the belief that all of us are created equal. But on this day of gratitude, we are also reminded that securing these freedoms and opportunities for all our people is an unfinished task. We must reflect on all we have been afforded while con- tinuing the work of ensuring no one is left out or left behind because of who they are or where they come from. For generations, our Nation’s progress has been carried forward by those who act on the obligations we have to one another. Each year on Thanks- giving, the selflessness and decency of the American people surface in food banks and shelters across our country, in time spent caring for the sick and the stranger, and in efforts to empathize with those with whom we disagree and to recognize that every individual is worthy of compassion and care. As we gather in the company of our friends, families, and commu- nities—just as the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag did centuries ago—let us strive to lift up others, promote tolerance and inclusiveness, and give thanks sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PRES DOCS for the joy and love that surround all of us. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 24, 2016, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage the people of the United States to join together—whether in our homes, places of worship, community centers, or any place of fellowship for friends and neighbors—and give VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:49 Nov 29, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4705 Sfmt 4790 E:\FR\FM\30NOD0.SGM 30NOD0$

Document Created: 2016-11-30 02:18:05
Document Modified: 2016-11-30 02:18:05

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Presidential Documents
FR Citation		81 FR 86553