As We prepare for Thanksgiving, the travel, family, friends and a feast, too many individual traditions are there to mention. Some may volunteer to serve those who through circumstances are homeless while others may take time to visit retirement communities.

Some will remember our troops in various ways and I hope we all take a moment to thank them for all they do to maintain our freedoms.

There will be laughter, prayers, football, food and stories told tomorrow.

Some will, no doubt, speak of the first Thanksgiving, the Pilgrims, the Indians, their hardships and how they came together.

I would, this year, like to take you back to a Thanksgiving long ago which most never think of on this holiday.

Before Thanksgiving WAS an official holiday it was still celebrated. Perhaps now as we celebrate it today but, indeed it did hold meaning.

The Thanksgiving of which I hope you will remember is that of 1776.

A newly declared independent nation was at war.

Thanksgiving was no longer thought of as a Puritan or holiday of religion although the thanking of God was a certain factor. In 1776, it was a holiday for Patriots.

Traveling to the home of relatives was generally not done unless of course, those relatives lived in your community. Distance was one thing and naturally, by carriage or horseback, such travel would have been quite time consuming.

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