tag:www.thedonovan.com,2010://1/tag:www.thedonovan.com,2008://1.10062- 2010-02-07T17:12:03Z We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 Movable Type 4.12 tag:www.thedonovan.com,2008://1.10062 2008-11-27T11:52:40Z 2008-11-27T12:11:16Z

Kat http://themiddleground.blogspot.com
I mean, the first official Thanks Giving by the fledgling congress of a newly declared independent United States.  After over a year of near collapse, capture and utter disaster, a messenger brought news of Gate's win at Saratoga against the British.  The win helped secure France's assistance and was one of the turning points of the struggle.  Sam Adams and the Continental Congress, declared a day of Thanks Giving.  It wasn't in November.

A day of Thanks Giving was declared the next year and the year after that as the new nation sought a day of prayer to Thank the almighty for one more year of existence, one more victory towards the end of the war and the final destination of Independence.

Even Lincoln declared a day of Thanks Giving to celebrate the Union's victories that finally lead to the close of that war.  The official day of Thanks Giving that we celebrate today was signed into law in 1941, just prior to the attacks on Pearl Harbor, as the United States continued to provide assistance to allied nations like Britain and leaned ever more towards war with Japan and Germany. 

Thereafter, Thanks Giving became a main stay of US tradition, holiday and culture.  Norman Rockwell even made it one of his main topics of a painting for the "four fears" poster series made popular during WWII.

This is not the first Thanks Giving that men and women who defend our nation have been away from their families.  Nor is it the first in which we find ourselves thanking the Almighty for the privilege of being the citizens of a free nation protected by the sacrifice of our fellow citizens in the uniform of our nation, serving beneath its flag. 

No, this is not the first and it probably won't be the last.  However, today, when you are giving Thanks, let these men and women be the first in your thoughts and prayers.   

Don't forget, you can express your thanks in a more corporeal manner by donating to Project VALOUR IT.

And, if you have a moment, say a prayer for the people of India, those that are still hostages, those that are grieving and those that wait.

]]> tag:www.thedonovan.com,2008://1.10062-comment:80851 Argent http://www.aaronpoeze.com
There is no real equivalent over here.  Our form of thanksgiving is probably best put as Christmas dinner, especially for Christians of course.  New Year often has an element of it too.  Geez it's nearly a new year already.
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