Pat Vaughn
AFA general counsel
October 2015 – In the pattern of the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles and after bringing in the harvests, Christians who formed our nation celebrated days of thanksgiving to God. The Jamestown and Plymouth colonists recognized that they were sustained only by God’s providence and celebrated thanksgiving feasts. George Washington, John Adams, and James Madison – our first, second, and fourth presidents, respectively – issued Thanksgiving Proclamations calling the young nation to unite in expressions of gratitude to God.
Each U.S. president since Abraham Lincoln in 1863 has issued a national Thanksgiving Proclamation. In these days when secularists attempt to remove all recognition of God from public life, the Thanksgiving Proclamation is an opportunity to remember that the U.S. has always acknowledged that our nation is dependent on God’s grace and providence.
“This tradition is something we could easily do in our local communities, too,” said AFA president Tim Wildmon. “Ask your mayor, city council, or county governing board to issue a proclamation calling the community to observe Thursday, November 26, 2015, as a day to thank God for His blessings and to plead for His mercy on our nation.”
A contemporary proclamation need not be lengthy or filled with flowery, formal words. It may be as simple as a few sentences expressing gratitude to God.
Thanksgiving Proclamation
As our Founding Fathers recognized their dependence on God and the work of His hand in their lives and this nation, let us again humbly acknowledge God and His protection and provision for us today, across the nation and in our community. In the midst of all the chaotic events in our nation and around the world, we are reminded that security and liberty continue in our nation only because of God’s loving care. We are able to wake each morning and exercise the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; to worship freely and openly; and to go through each day without fear for our lives. For those, and countless other blessings, we thank Him.
Furthermore, we bend our knees to ask Him to revive and uphold godliness in the lives of the men and women in our nation and our community.
With freedom comes the responsibility for obedience to God and His commands, and so we confess our sins as a nation and ask His forgiveness as we pursue peace, justice, righteousness, and His favor. With grateful hearts, we praise God for His longsuffering, kindness, mercy, and goodness.
Signed _______________________________ (mayor, governor, city council chair)
Date__________________
This Thanksgiving Proclamation was drafted by AFAJ staff writer Stacy Long. AFA encourages readers to urge local officials (city or county) and state governments to adopt it – or adapt it as you wish – to remind this nation that our blessings come from God alone. 
