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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, November 26, 2015, marks the annual celebration of |
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| 6 | 7 | | Thanksgiving, an occasion when Americans gather among loved ones |
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| 7 | 8 | | and recount the year's bounties and blessings; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Thanksgiving is among our oldest and most cherished |
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| 9 | 10 | | traditions, a holiday whose history intertwines closely with the |
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| 10 | 11 | | narrative of our nation and whose spirit of fellowship and goodwill |
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| 11 | 12 | | has endured through all times of triumph and uncertainty; and |
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| 12 | 13 | | WHEREAS, Its origins can be traced nearly four centuries ago |
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| 13 | 14 | | to the year 1620, when the Pilgrims made landfall on Plymouth Rock; |
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| 14 | 15 | | finding themselves inadequately prepared for the harsh New England |
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| 15 | 16 | | winter, they took refuge in prayer and were at last assisted by a |
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| 16 | 17 | | tribe of Native Americans, whose knowledge of the land helped them |
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| 17 | 18 | | to reap a plentiful harvest; the grateful settlers declared a |
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| 18 | 19 | | three-day feast to honor the kindness of their newfound friends and |
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| 19 | 20 | | to acknowledge the grace of God in seeing them through their time of |
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| 20 | 21 | | hardship; and |
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| 21 | 22 | | WHEREAS, Thanksgiving was first observed in the fledgling |
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| 22 | 23 | | United States in 1789, one year after the adoption of the |
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| 23 | 24 | | Constitution; during the inaugural session of Congress, a |
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| 24 | 25 | | resolution was put forth calling on President George Washington to |
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| 25 | 26 | | enact "a day of public thanksgiving" to God for allowing the |
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| 26 | 27 | | American people to establish a peaceful rule of government; |
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| 27 | 28 | | President Washington agreed, and in his first proclamation to the |
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| 28 | 29 | | nation, invited Americans to reflect on the gifts of tranquility, |
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| 29 | 30 | | unity, and prosperity bestowed on them; and |
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| 30 | 31 | | WHEREAS, It was decades later, when the fate of the union was |
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| 31 | 32 | | imperiled during the dark days of the Civil War, that President |
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| 32 | 33 | | Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous Thanksgiving Day proclamation |
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| 33 | 34 | | calling for "the Almighty hand" to heal and restore the nation; |
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| 34 | 35 | | since that time, a presidential Thanksgiving proclamation has been |
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| 35 | 36 | | issued by each of his successors; and |
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| 36 | 37 | | WHEREAS, On this most American of holidays, individuals from |
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| 37 | 38 | | all walks of life cast aside troubles and disagreements to treasure |
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| 38 | 39 | | the comforts of hearth and kin; mindful of the freedom and security |
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| 39 | 40 | | that we continue to enjoy, Americans honor the service and |
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| 40 | 41 | | sacrifice of members of our armed forces and all those at home who |
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| 41 | 42 | | confront danger to ensure the safety of their communities; we |
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| 42 | 43 | | extend thanks to the many people who enrich our lives in ways great |
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| 43 | 44 | | and small, and we strive to share our abundance with fellow citizens |
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| 44 | 45 | | in need; and |
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| 45 | 46 | | WHEREAS, Signifying the bonds of faith, friendship, and |
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| 46 | 47 | | family from which we have always drawn our deepest strength, |
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| 47 | 48 | | Thanksgiving is redolent of the brighter dawn that has always |
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| 48 | 49 | | awaited us, and it is a great pleasure to join with our countrymen |
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| 49 | 50 | | and countrywomen to reflect on this historic and joyous occasion; |
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| 50 | 51 | | now, therefore, be it |
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| 51 | 52 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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| 52 | 53 | | Legislature hereby commemorate Thanksgiving 2015. |
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