National Holiday Rooted in the Fray of War: Thanksgiving
In 1777, amidst the tumultuous backdrop of the American Revolutionary War, the Second Continental Congress issued a significant proclamation. This declaration, which served as the first national Thanksgiving proclamation, was a call to give thanks to God for the "great and signal victories" in the revolutionary struggle, specifically referencing the American patriots' success in the Battle of Saratoga that year [3][4][5]. This marked the birth of a tradition that would persist through subsequent wars and crises.
The proclamation, issued in York, Pennsylvania (temporarily serving as the nation's capital after the British captured Philadelphia), was intended to inspire commanders, both by land and sea, and all under them. It was a testament to the belief that the Thanksgiving proclamation would secure for these United States the greatest of all human blessings: Independence and Peace.
Throughout U.S. history, Thanksgiving has often been linked symbolically to moments of war and military conflict. For instance, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving in 1863 in the midst of the Civil War, a gesture aimed at fostering unity and gratitude despite the ongoing strife.
In more recent history, post-9/11 Thanksgiving observances have emphasized patriotism, national resilience, and support for troops engaged in the "War on Terror" conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
John Amble, a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, currently serves as the editorial director of a specific website at West Point. His experiences underscore the ongoing connection between Thanksgiving and war, a bond that has endured from the Revolutionary War to the contemporary era.
It is important to note that while Thanksgiving has a long relationship with war, the holiday did not become officially recognized as a national holiday until a later period. The initial 1777 proclamation set a precedent of linking thankfulness with military and political challenges, a tradition that has persisted through subsequent wars and crises up to post-9/11 America.
This pattern reveals how Thanksgiving functions not only as a cultural and religious holiday but also as a symbolic national response to war and conflict. It is a national ritual tied closely to periods of war and struggle, used to boost morale, acknowledge sacrifice, and unify the country.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not the official position of the United States Military Academy, Department of the Army, or Department of Defense.
References: [3] American Revolution, "The First Thanksgiving Proclamation," National Park Service. [Online] Available: https://www.nps.gov/revwar/learn/historyandculture/first-thanksgiving-proclamation.htm
[4] Library of Congress, "First Thanksgiving Proclamation, 1777," American Memory. [Online] Available: https://www.loc.gov/item/ammem/gale_americas/mal00106/
[5] The National Archives, "First Thanksgiving Proclamation, 1777," Founders Online. [Online] Available: https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Congress/95A-01-02-0026
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