When I was a little girl we learned about the Pilgrims and the Native Americans with stories about the hard winters and bountiful summers. Of course, we would decorate pumpkins and make costumes representing the Native Americans and the Pilgrims. We celebrated Thanksgiving as a day to give thanks for our family and all of the food we had to eat.

Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday celebrated primarily in the United States, although, several other places around the world observe similar celebrations. It is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November and has its historical roots in religious and cultural traditions. It is celebrated with prayers of thanks and special Thanksgiving ceremonies among almost all religions after harvests.

The Thanksgiving holiday's history in North America is rooted in English traditions dating from the Protestant Reformation. It also has aspects of a harvest festival, even though the harvest in New England occurs well before the late-November date on which the modern Thanksgiving holiday is celebrated.

The modern Thanksgiving holiday tradition is commonly, but not universally, traced to a poorly documented 1621 celebration at Plymouth, in present-day Massachusetts. The 1621 Plymouth feast and thanksgiving were prompted by a good harvest.

Pilgrims and Puritans who began emigrating from England in the 1620s and 1630s carried the tradition of Days of Fasting and Days of Thanksgiving with them to New England.

In later years, religious Thanksgiving services were publically announced by civil leaders such as Governor Bradford, who planned a thanksgiving celebration and fast in 1623.

The practice of holding an annual harvest festival did not become a regular affair in New England until the late 1660s.

Thanksgiving proclamations were made mostly by church leaders in New England up until 1682, and then by both state and church leaders until after the American Revolution.

President of the United States, George Washington proclaimed the first nation-wide Thanksgiving celebration in America marking Nov. 26, 1789, "as a day of public Thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many favors of Almighty God".

In modern times, the President of the United States, in addition to issuing a proclamation, will "pardon" a turkey, which spares the bird's life and ensures that it will spend the duration of its life roaming freely on farmland.

Many people like to re-affirm their faith in humanity, by helping at a Thanksgiving meal for the homeless or for refugees. Many of us have had families who have emmigrated to the United States.

We talked to someone who is involved with a resettlement office. We found it to be very chaotic. People were funneling in and out all day. Big families from places like Afghanistan, Congo, Burma and Iraq were talking to case managers, playing in a children's area, and enjoying a multicultural feast. They were from every age group, and you could hear dozens of languages. Many wanted to practice their English and resettlement staff were talking with them slowly, and welcoming each to their first Thanksgiving. The staff was trying to explain a holiday about being thankful to a room full of people who are there because of war, persecution, or natural disaster.

Many have gone through years of waiting in camps or cities before being given permission to resettle here in the United States. On the wall there was a piece of paper taped up that said: "Write What You Are Thankful For!" As the day went on, the sheet was filled.

What are you thankful for?

I came up with a list of my own that surprised me because it was so long. One of the first thoughts came from the Veteran’s Day we just celebrated. We are a free country because so many men and women gave up their time and many gave their lives for us. There is no way we can ever say “Thank You” enough when we understand their sacrifices. Their pain, suffering, loss of friends, loss of family, loss of health and more just so we can enjoy the freedom that many other countries envy.

Again, thank you to all who served regardless of where you served. Also thank you, to your families who gave you the love and time to serve us.

Next, I thought of the firefighters, rescue squad, and police. When we have a major fire like the one that ruined the old Agway building, they are our first line of defense. The fire department will turnout in all types of weather, at any time of day or night, and sometimes risk their lives to save our lives and our property.

Often, the rescue squad is right beside them working on people who have been injured in an accident, fire, or had another medical emergency.

The police department might control traffic at a time of emergency to insure there are no other accidents or injuries. They also do so many other things to keep us safe and secure from evil and unscrupulous interlopers.

Our Department of Public Works came up next. They spend their days, and often their nights providing us with clean water. We have a healthy ample supply to drink, bath in, launder our clothes, wash our cars, and water our lawns. Although we have many streams and ponds around the state it is thanks to people like those in the public works department who help provide enough for us all to use right in our own home. They even make sure that all of the waste from our homes is properly treated and returned to nature with all of the harmful ingredients removed. They are responsible for so much more around the village: the streets and sidewalks; the parks, flowers, trees, and bushes.

Of course, the elected officials who govern and represent us deserve our thanks also. Their time is devoted to balancing the needs of the public with the cost of providing services. Since they represent us they wind up hearing our needs while attending church, while dining at one of our wonderful restaurants, or shopping for gas or other merchandise in any of our stores.

The top of my list to be thankful for is my family. There is no greater joy for me then to be with any one in my family. My friends come in a close second.

Therefore, to my husband Jim, my daughters Christa, Liz, and Cindy, Happy Thanksgiving.

Also to all of our readers and those men and women providing services year round to us, Happy Thanksgiving.

I have never been more proud to be part of a country that has a history of offering refuge.  I have never felt more joyful and more humane. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

What are you thankful for?

Mark you calendar

Once again the Altamont Community Tradition invites the community to enjoy and participate in this year's Victorian Holiday Celebration on Sunday, Dec. 14.

The general public is invited to visit the Altamont Masonic Hall at 138 Maple Ave. to view the holiday trees and wreaths. This is a free event open to the public.   

The Victorian House Tours will be conducted from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 per adult.  

More information to follow.

Lock down

The Guilderland Central School held a lockdown on Nov. 19 between noon and 12:30 p.m. The school has expressed its appreciation to the community for their cooperation, patience, and understanding during the time that the schools were closed.   

Cookie dough

The FMS announced that pick-up for orders of cookie dough was on Nov. 20. Cookie dough that was not picked up has been donated to a food pantry in the area.

Book fair

The Farnsworth Middle school has announced that the Scholastic Book Fair will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 3, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Dec. 4, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and 4 to 6 p.m., on Friday, Dec. 5, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and on Monday, Dec. 8, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

Students received the booklist flyer to take home with hundreds of books to choose from.

Profits received from the sale are used to defray the cost of the visits of young authors who visit the school.

Food pantry

The food Pantry at the St. Lucy/St.Bernadette parish center always has needs. Items such as boxed cake mixes and canned frostings  are needed.  All donations can be left in the Gathering Space at the church.  

Clothing needed

Persons participating in the under-clothing drive at St. Lucy/St. Bernadette Church are reminded that all donations need to be turned in at the church by Dec. 7.

Thanksgiving recess

Schools in the Guilderland School District will be closed Nov. 26 through

Nov. 28.

Anniversaries

Happy-anniversary wishes are extended to Linda and Jim Thomas celebrating their special day on Nov. 26.

Birthdays

Happy-birthday wishes are extended to:

— Mary Bradt, Patrick Munroe,  and Sarah Anne Philips on Nov. 28;

— John Keogh on Nov. 29;

— Scott Boyce, Troy Miller, and Bud Munroe on Nov. 30;

— Lance Dunham on Dec. 1;

— Laurel Breitenbach and Nolan Vincent on Dec. 2;

— Jim Gaige, Brenda neé Armstrong Goodknight, Beckie ne´ Armstrong Harris, and Jeff Houck on Dec. 3; and
— Jillana Vincent and Holly Wifler on Dec. 4.