Giving thanks
Submitted by Wes Clark on November 23, 2005 - 12:11pm.
Tomorrow, Americans will sit down together with friends and family across the country to celebrate Thanksgiving. It's the most American of holidays -- a tradition that we trace back to our pilgrim ancestors who gathered with the Wampanoag tribe to celebrate the first Thanksgiving in 1621 near Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Thanksgiving continued to be celebrated occasionally through the 17th and 18th Century, but it wasn't until 1863 when Abraham Lincoln set aside the fourth Thursday of November as a national Thanksgiving Day that the annual holiday formally took root.
I think President Lincoln's words from his first official Thanksgiving Day proclamation, during America's Civil War, are especially appropriate this year as we pause to reflect on the blessings that have been bestowed upon us even while in the midst of our current conflict:
"The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years, with large increase of freedom. "No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. "It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union." -- Abraham Lincoln, October 3, 1863
Tomorrow, Americans will gather to give thanks for the many blessings we have received -- while offering prayers for our brave men and women in uniform serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world, as well as their families and friends here at home.
And, as President Lincoln wished in 1863, let us do everything in our power, and ask for God's help, to bring a swift end to our current military conflict abroad, while healing the many wounds that divide us as Americans here at home.
Gert and I send our very best wishes for a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
Sincerely,
Wes Clark
P.S. To learn more about how to support our men and women in uniform this Thanksgiving, I invite you to visit www.americasupportsyou.mil/americasupportsyou/help.html.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family,
and everyone at WesPAC and the Clark Community!
God Bless America! 
be thankful that we have Presidential term limits (although I'm sure Jeb will seek to continue the Bush dynasty at some point)
Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism. ~George Washington
At this moment I'm listening to Michael Moore giving a great speech on C-Span. I hope that you catch it. He's quoting from the message of "Christ the King" Sunday sermon and he adds: "You can't get into heaven without a permission slip from the poor." I thought you'd like it.
So thanks to you and all who are willing to speak for the "common good," and the common American. May the future bring us closer to our more perfect union.
You have not converted a man because you have silenced him.--J. V. Marley
Wishing you much love and happiness on this, the most AMERICAN of holidays!
Have a very Happy Thanksgiving.
And tomorrow, let us all toast to better days ahead for our country and our world.
Have a lovely holiday, Sir. Your family deserves a special time together. Enjoy!
a Happy Thanksgiving! Our Governor Sebelius is spending this holiday weekend in the Middle East, meeting with military and political leaders. She is going with Gov. Granholm and 2 Republican governors. As the CIC of the Kansas National Guard, she has promised to shake the hand, hug or give a smile to every soldier she sees on behalf of all of us. You should give Kathleen a call when she returns and ask her about her trip, General!
Happy Thanksgiving to the Clark Family and to all the Clarkies and their families! And a special Thanksgiving wish for all the families with loved ones in Iraq and Afghanistan: that you celebrate the next Thanksgiving with your entire family home safe and sound.
And that Lincoln quote! It's almost hard to imagine, given the present occupant, that there was a time when we had such eloquence in the White House.
I am So Thankful for the Hope in the Future, you have Provided to all your Clarkies, the American People, and the people of the World. With the guidence of a true Leader, you are showing us the way to make our World a Better, Safer Place.My Thanks to the sacrifices you and your family have made for the World, in fighting for our Democracy, and providing the World a view of TRUE AMERICAN LEADERSHIP, that makes us proud to be your supporters. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your Family!
What she ^ said. Thanks Dee - You express it perfectly.
Happy Thanksgiving Clarkies!
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right. - Hunter/Garcia
Right back at you, General Clark & all-
This year over 2,100 holiday tables have a needless empty place reserved for a soldier who would still be alive were it not for the lies & blatant war-profiteering of the Bush Crime Syndicate.
As we celebrate, make no mistake. Families & friends are discussing politics, the war(s), pondering the continued failure of the Admini$tration to capture Osama bin Laden, wondering about our impending energy crisis & the ill-advised energy policies that brought us here, to the brink of disaster. We ponder the fate of Katrina & Wilma victims, we wonder about Able Danger. We know about the Diebold machines.
I don't know about you but I can feel change in the very air.
And we roar a resounding cheer to the loyal opposition. We will continue working to counter & challenge those who would compromise our national security at every turn for personal gain- one by one, district by district, state by state.
I hope you are spending it with the grandkids.
Thank you both for all you do.
The Meyers family.
George Bush has had his day and he's bollixed it up.
Thank you, General Wes, for your informative and inspiring message. It meant a
great deal to receive it here. It is especially
meaningful to read Lincoln's words at this time when we again have
our troops in battle and again helping us at home. Those of us in the Deep
South are again haing the post-traumatice hock and the devastation
of a Reconstruction following a massive calamity. I talked to a man yesterday
who had ceased, for 3 days, the cleaning of the mold, and spent those days
digging through the muck and stuff that was his home, so that he could and did
search and search for his kindergartner son's Teddy bear that he had slept with
for all of his years, and for the love-letters he and his wife had written to each
other when they were courting. Things were never the same
following the War Between the States in Lincoln's time,, and already we see and know
that they will never be the same here, following Etrina and Rita. and the mountain of
water that went up over heads to 12 and more feet for some. I am father north in
South Louisiana, so I and my home weathered to storm physicially
just fine, but many of my family and friends are not. Some of them were among
those caught in the sudden storm sturge at their home, and were frantically yet sucessfully
managing to make holes in the attic ceiing then make them bigger and crawl out on the
roof.
My ancestors handed down stories of how, during the Reconstruction in
the South,
following the civil war and Lincoln's assissasinaiton, people walked about with a certain look in
their eyes off and on, for a long, long time. Now, many of us are still
commenting on how we see a certain look come into people's eyes, off
and on, down here,now. . It has become less and less frequent, yet people are
still being more kindly to each other, as if to a wounded one, when they say,
"hello. How are you?" It's a deeper, more meaningful "How are you", often with a
"dear" added. Even the drivers are more courteous. (well, maybe not all of the
male students who are as ever some boy drivers are.)
And then the talk often turns to being so very thankful on this
particular Thanksgiving down here. The inner feelings. I am reminded of
the drama "After the Fall" about how the various characters, particularly
the protagonist, felt and acted before, during and fter the defeat of Nazi Germany.
I'm sure that in your professional life, you have heard many and seen many deal
with such feelings.
In a whole new way, as we see and hear of how our friends and fellows
have been and still are suffering, and we have a home and our things,
though suffering, yet in a much lesser way, it's a mixed Thanksgiving.
One eye on the weather report every morning and evening. It's a
religious thing, even for those who have an unusual religion, or claim
to have none. Trust in God is the issue for many.
We write to some of those who were evacuated our of the region.There are,
you know, hundreds of thousands who are still very much
unsettled in their living quarters. And so, thus, are their dear ones, all over the country.
So much more so for our troops from Lousiana and Mississippi, and
other affected states,who were and
are in Iraq, for they are in regular touch with their families and friends here.
We especially give thanks for their dedication and smart performance of our
military at this time of disaster recovery and preparation for what the future may bring.
And for their service on behalf of duty, honor, country.It uplifts us.
The Louisiana National Guard units hasve been to stay in awe of. They have been
especially noted in news articles for their high numbers and performance in Iraq.
And we all know of their outstanding help during and after the Hurricanes and
storm surge and flooding , and still very much continuing in Louisiana.
We are thankful to them and to all of our leaders who have gotten their
messages of help and inspiration to the people here and all over the country who
have evacuated and remain homeless, and devastated. And to the millions,
all told, who have been deeply affected by this disaster, which, it is being
said is the worst disaster to ever have affected this country, other than the
civil war.
I 'mso thankful for having your messages here.. I hope that you will be able
to make a visit to South Louisiana soon, on tv here, if possible.. People will talk for
generations to come about who came to help and/or got words of encouragement
and support to them. Even our smartest and most knowledgeable ones here, and there are many of them,
including at the fine universities and the leaders of themany huge corporations, many of the artists and
oh, so many others.
are having difficulty determining which of the plans are best and just how to
execute them.
Thanks to you, as always, General Wes (since your first days on CNN). And a warm and
loving Thanksgiving holiday to you and Gert and your growing little family.
We are all blessed.
Thank you for having made of your abilities what you have made of them.
And for writing to us and posting it here so that we can "visit" you here.
We hope to hear from you again soon.
Clearsky
For all your love, support, prayers and willness to help everyone around you. Yes Katrina has affected many and I pray today that if they are hurting, to reach out to God or whoever their personal higher power is, for strength and love on this day. AMEN
Clark is DA MAN Clark2008
Just want to say happy Thanksgiving to you all. May we be celebrating a happy November 2006 as well.
Have a wonderful holiday.
Kelly
"Our public servants work for us - we don't work for them. We have an obligation, as citizens of this country, to always remember that - and to never let them forget it." - DeadMessengers
To General and your family, and
everyone in this community,
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
and to all the Clarkies too.
Let's also take a moment to reflect on our men and women overseas, many in harm's way and may they return home safely.
Barb
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with your family, General Clark. I know you'll enjoy those grandbabies and being with your family. We, your extended family and friends, are all thankful for your leadership and your willingness to spend so much of your times and energy speaking out for what is right and good.
My best to all the Clark Family, and to all the Clarkies behind them.
General and Mrs. Clark, and all the loyal clarkies!!
Have a wonderful day General and Mrs. Clark in the loving presence of your family and friends.
And a Happy Thanksgiving to all of my Clarkie Sistahs and Bruthas too!
When my family names all the things that we are thankful for, I will surely mention Wes Clark's wisdom, heart and leadership. Following his orders has certainly changed my life.
(I also will be especially thankful that Geo. Bush can never be elected to the White House again.)(grin)
Happy Thanksgiving General and Mrs. Clark. We are thankful for you. You have made a difference in so many lives in ways you may never realize. I am thankful that we have this blog too.
Ya see, I put copies of it on CD disks of American Son that I sent to all the Iowa voters I canvassed long-distance for Sodbusters during the 2004 primaries.
It reinvigorates in me the optimistic enthusiasm that the Clarks gave my family and me. And don't we all, especially the troops and their families exploited by Bush, need some moral support as we continue our further descent into the Bush Crime Family's corruption!
We salute you General Clark and your growing family. . .thanks for continuing to be our beacon of hope.
For Clarksanity in 2008
Hope everyone enjoys their time with their family and while you're enjoying it, remember those who, due to the right wing nuts in control right now, either can't celebrate with their families or will never be able to celebrate a Thanksgiving with their families again.
To you and Gert, General Clark-- and thank you so much for this warm message in our inboxes today.
I know my husband Keith and I will be including you and your family in our Thanksgiving blessing count tomorrow, as we do all year long. Thanks for all you do and I know will continue to do for your country and for us.
Wishing you a wonderful, relaxing time for Thanksgiving and anxious for you to come back to Los Angeles again on another WesPAC event!
To General and Mrs. Clark and their family, and to all of my Clark family here! I'm thankful that our mutual concerns brought us together, and that our mutual vision keeps us together on this journey to a better future.
to General Clark and all his family--with heartfelt thankfulness for all you do and all you inspire us to do.
Happy Thanksgiving, too, to all in our wonderful "electronic family." May your day be filled with warmth, joy and companionship!
The General gets it right. Competence--What a concept!
To the Clark Family -- may your day be filled with wonderful blessings. God smiles on people who serve -- and you all are smiled on!! 
Clark is DA MAN - Clark2008
Thank you, General Clark, for continuing to serve our country, and thanks to your great family for all they do. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours and to Clarkies everywhere.
Sir, and to Gert, Wes, Jr. and his family (I have to meet that guy, sometime! -- get him to Little Rock next August), I wish a belated Happy Thanksgiving (now after the fact).
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
BE THE CHANGE you wish to see in the world.
If not us, WHO? If not now, WHEN?
Thank you General for your service, and hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
for all you do! I hope you had a wonderful holiday with family and friends! Cheers!
"...the measure of success is...'Can you get your ideas adopted?' " ~ Wes Clark
And a happy belated Thanksgiving to you and yours!
"The mark of leadership is not to standup when everybody is standing, but rather to actually stand up when no one else is standing" - Pulitzer Prize winning author Samantha Power, introducing Gen Clark
the Clarks a very happy Thanksgiving and to thank Wes for all he is doing.
Does he every stop moving?
Noel
To you and your family.
Thank you for all that you do, have done and will do for this country.
We've got your back.