by James Glaser
November 25, 2004

The first American Thanksgiving Day was celebrated back in 1621 by group of English settlers who had lived in Holland for 12 years trying to escape persecution. While in exile they decided that Holland wasn't right for them and they headed for the New World in America.

Like so many other groups who have come here, they only wanted to worship God the way they felt was right. A Native American named Squanto befriended them. He taught them what edible plants grow here and how to grow them, how to hunt here, and how to build shelters to protect them from the elements. You could almost say that this Indian was God Sent.

These people made it that first year in the New World where they lived in what is now Massachusetts. That next fall they had a day of thanksgiving for finding their new home in this new land. The local Indian tribe, the Wampanoags joined in this first Thanksgiving and brought food and played games with these new people. America started out with the Red and White man helping each other.

In the book, "Turkeys, Pilgrims, and Indian Corn," by Edna Barth, it is written: "On June 20, 1676, the governing council of Charlestown, Massachusetts, held a meeting to determine how best to express thanks for the good fortune that had seen their community securely established. By unanimous vote they instructed Edward Rawson, the clerk, to proclaim June 29 as a day of Thanksgiving, our first."

Sarah Joseph Hale started a campaign in 1827 to make Thanksgiving a national holiday. She was the editor of Boston's Ladies Magazine and it took her until October 3, 1863 to get President Lincoln to make that proclamation. He set the date as the last Thursday in November.

So, today we have a holiday to give thanks to God for this land and all the gifts he has given to us. It was started by a group of people who were persecuted for their religious beliefs. Our country was set up so that all people could have their own beliefs.

America was set up so each religion could believe and honor God the way they felt was best without interference from other Americans. We should thank God that he gave us a place that we can do just that. We should thank him, because we are lucky enough to have lived in a time that we still have this Freedom of Religion.

I sure hope our Grandchildren do.