A Proclamation of Thanksgiving
As we head into the holidays this year, I am reminded of a speech I heard long ago from a man I had admired. I would like to share this memory with you this season.
November 05, 1963 Proclamation 3560
By John F. Kennedy,the 35th President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
“Over three centuries ago, our forefathers in Virginia and in Massachusetts, far from home in a lonely wilderness, set aside a time of thanksgiving. On the appointed day, they gave reverent thanks for their safety, for the health of their children, for the fertility of their fields, for the love which bound them together and for the faith which united them with their God.”
President Kennedy, later on in his address went on to say:
“So too when the colonies achieved their independence, our first President in the first year of his first Administration proclaimed November 26, 1789, as “a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God” and called upon the people of the new republic to “beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions… to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue . . . and generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.”
“Today we give our thanks, most of all, for the ideals of honor and faith we inherit from our forefathers–for the decency of purpose, steadfastness of resolve and strength of will, for the courage and the humility, which they possessed and which we must seek every day to emulate. As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.”
President Kennedy closed with:
“Now, Therefore, I, John F. Kennedy, President of the United States of America, in consonance with the joint resolution of the Congress approved December 26, 1941, … designating the fourth Thursday of November in each year as Thanksgiving Day, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 28, 1963, as a day of national thanksgiving.”
Though we may be angered, frustrated and saddened by some of what we see on the daily news, it is important for us, especially, to maintain our faith. Faith in the rule of law, faith in the goodness of our neighbors, faith in the freedom we have to create our own destiny, faith in our God, and Faith in the Future.
Many years ago I wrote of the Principles, Practices and Mistakes that govern the majority of our ability to create and maintain wealth. First among them, you may recall, is Faith in the Future.
We have all experienced turbulent times over the past thirty some years. We have seen many pandemics and drops in market values.
Over the past months we have been challenged as a people, and as a country, with a new and dangerous pandemic and the problems it has caused for our country, our economy and our families. As is evident in the nightly news, many have lost their way, we must not.
Although the near past and the near future may be a challenge, it is important for us to remember … this time is not different.
Today presents us with clear opportunities if we choose to take advantage of them. As Warren Buffet once said: “When others step outside with umbrellas, the time is ripe for us to step out with buckets”.
We can prosper, if we choose to take advantage of the opportunities that the current turmoil brings to our doors and to our portfolios.
Spencer, Sarah and I are working daily to identify the opportunities as they arise, to take stock of our collective portfolios, and to make the changes that will help us all prosper from current opportunities in the future.
Looking forward, we wish all of you a pleasant, healthy and fulfilling fall. We also wish you a Thanksgiving Holiday that is full of “thanks” for the life of freedom and happiness we have been graced with in this wonderful country we live in.
Let us all pray for guidance God’s Blessings for our families , our country and our futures.
Our Best to All of you.