Washington said in his proclamation that part of the purpose was “to render our national government a blessing to all the people…”
What’s called the most American of holidays, Thanksgiving, had its roots in pilgrim and other colonial celebrations going back to the early 17th century.
It was President George Washington who first designated the celebration of Thanksgiving by our national government in 1789, although the Continental Congress of our nascent republic proclaimed several such days at varying times during the revolution. Indeed, General Washington in December of 1777 celebrated a day of Thanksgiving after the defeat of the British at Saratoga during the War of Independence.
Some maintain Thanksgiving became a true national holiday in 1863 during another war, this one fought to keep our nation united, when President Lincoln proclaimed that the last Thursday of November would be a National Day of Thanksgiving.
Fighting still another war, this one economic but just as devastating to American well-being, President Franklin Roosevelt ordered that Thanksgiving should always be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of the month in an attempt to promote holiday shopping earlier than the odd fifth Thursday of November allowed.
So, let us give thanks to our democracy today, remembering the hard fought battles and heroes of our past, while girding ourselves for the political, economic and military battles we now face. Through it all, remember there will always be more reasons to celebrate Thanksgivings to come.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
