CHAPTER 542
STATE OF DELAWARE
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
PROCLAMATION
More than three centuries ago a small band of people, endowed with a desire for individual freedom and the right to worship God in a manner of their own choosing, braved the seas and landed on the shores of North America. There they established homes fashioned from wood of nearby forests, and began clearing the land so that food could be grown for their continued existence.
At the end of a year the colony had progressed. It had made friends of the native Indians and had won their confidence. Through piety and fair dealing colonists had won their fight in the new land and looked to the future with uplifted eyes.
But they did not forget the prime source and inspiration for all which they had accomplished. They were firm believers in the power of Almighty God, and in recognition of His bounty unto them, set aside one day in which to give thanks for the blessings which had accrued to them.
Judged by the standards of today, these hardy pioneers had little enough for which to be thankful. They had to fight wintry blasts; lack of supplies, illness and suffering. But their high spirit and faith did not yield to the roadblocks in their paths. Their day of Thanksgiving established a new custom which was to forever be followed.
Today, despite the hate and turmoil in which the world finds itself, we as Americans and Delawareans have much for which to be thankful. Generally we are blessed with comfortable homes; fine families and abundance of worldly goods. For us, this bounteous land has been more than blessed, and we look again this year, as did those pioneers, to the Giver of All Gifts for His kindness and mercy.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Elbert N. Carvel, Governor of the State of Delaware, do hereby set aside and proclaim
THURSDAY, THE TWENTY-SEVENTH DAY OF NOVEMBER, A. D., 1952, AS A DAY OF PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING
and call upon the people of this State to mark this day with appropriate observances in houses of worship, in our homes or the homes of our friends. Remembering that the home is our firm foundation, it is there that we should continue to instruct our children in the significance of this day and with them humbly thank God for His manifold blessings. We should also pray for those in the service of their country and ask for their guidance and protection. If it is the Divine Will, we should ask for a speedy return to peace in the world.
In this acknowledgment of our great heritage of liberty, and religious freedom let us display the flags of our State and country throughout Delaware on this day.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State of Delaware, this Twenty-first day of November, in the Year of Our Lord, One Thousand Nine Hundred and Fifty-two, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the One Hundred and Seventy-seventh.
(GREAT SEAL)
By the Governor:
ELBERT N. CARVEL
HARRIS B. McDOWELL, JR., Secretary of State.