October 3, 1863, President Lincoln issued a Proclamation setting aside the last Thursday of November "as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise." The Civil War had carried on for two-and-a-half years and President Lincoln "fervently implore(d) 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."
One hundred fifty years later, Thanksgiving has turned into a battleground of retailers fighting for consumer supremacy by further encroaching on the holiday itself.
We respectfully request protection of this secular holiday which represents appreciation for what we have, including time with family and friends.