A PROCLAMATION by the President of the United States of America:
November 21, 2002
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.
GEORGE W. BUSH
2002 Thanksgiving Proclamation is one of the
Bush Thanksgiving Proclamations made by George Bush.
Festivals : Thanksgiving :
Proclamations
: Presidential : After Lincoln : 2002 Thanksgiving
Proclamation