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| Thanksgiving marked by feasts, but also by fighting |
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| Wednesday, 18 November 2009 | |
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Rev. John C. Blackford Religion Columnist Thanksgiving is a day for expressing our thanks for our blessings, material and spiritual, and a time to gather in our crops and to gather together with loved ones. It is an occasion to “talk turkey,” because 97 percent of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving, according to surveys. Further, turkey consumption has increased ll6 percent since 1970. An estimated 45 million turkeys are consumed each Thanksgiving, with an average weight of 15 pounds. U.S. farmers produced 271 million turkeys in 2008, and yet only 29 percent is eaten during the holiday season. Oddly, June, not November, is National Turkey Lover’s Month. November is not only a season to be thankful for our bounties, but it is also the month we celebrate Veterans Day in honor of those who have served in our nation’s armed forces. Many Thanksgivings have been days of despair in wartime, as well as days of thanks. Thanksgiving was officially formalized by President Abraham Lincoln in October of 1863 at the height of the Civil War, as he spoke of a “year filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies.” Thereafter it was observed annually. In 1623 the Pilgrims held the first day of thanks, and in 1941 the fourth Thursday in November became the official Thanksgiving Day when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed it into law. Connecticut canceled its day of thanks in 1675 because of King Philip’s War, which was the deadliest war per capita in our history: more than 600 colonists were killed (8 percent of adult males), and 2000 Indians (10 percent of their total population in the area). The settlers declared a public day of thanks in 1676 for “subduing our enemies.” In 1774, the year before the Revolutionary War began, Massachusetts declared the first American (not by British authority) day of thanks on December 15. The Battle of Yorktown, Virginia in October, 1781 ended the War. The Continental Congress authorized December 13 as a day of thanks for peace. President Lincoln proclaimed November 24, 1864 as Thanksgiving Day, even though the Civil War was not over. On that day the Union Army of the Potomac received 59,000 pounds of turkey, and General Sheridan’s troops 35,000 pounds. During World War I, in the fall of 1917, specially detailed officers scoured the French countryside for two weeks before Thanksgiving in search of turkeys for the dinner. A number of important battles in World War II (1941-45) were fought over the Thanksgiving season, including Makin and Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands, and Cape St. George in the Solomons (1943). The following year in the Battle of Huertgen Forest, Germany our 120,000 troops sustained 24,000 battle casualties, plus 5000 losses due to disease. At the same time, on the other side of the world, the Battle of Peleliu (Palau Islands) ended with large losses: Marines — 1336 killed in action, 6032 wounded in action; Navy — 195 killed, 505 wounded; Army — 110 killed, 717 wounded. The Battle of the Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War (1950-53) was over Thanksgiving. Army and Marine Corps members lost 1225 killed in action and 4380 wounded in this 1950 struggle. The Vietnam War (1965-72) ground combat phase in November, 1967 was the time of the ending of the Battle of Dak To, when our forces fought off 6000 North Vietnamese in 19 days of intense fighting. We suffered 192 killed and 642 wounded. In the Iraq War (2003-) over the Thanksgiving season the Battle of Fallujah, Operation Phantom Fury, took place. 10,000 U.S. troops were engaged for 17 days in securing this city, with losses of 71 killed and 609 wounded. This Thanksgiving we shall be engaged in serious combat in both Iraq and Afghanistan. We shall do all we can to protect our armed forces, and, at the same time, bring the spirit of this special holiday to them, including services of worship and turkey dinner. They will miss the warmth of home and dear ones, even as we miss their presence at our tables. As we think of and pray for our armed forces men and women at risk on this Thanksgiving, may our trust be in the providence of the Almighty, and in his grace to sustain both them and us. Acknowledgement: The American Legion Magazine, November, 2009 and The Veterans of Foreign Wars Magazine, November, 2009. Social Bookmarking ...       |
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