COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

PROCLAMATION
THANKSGIVING DAY
November 26, 2015
WHEREAS, Thanksgiving began as a celebration of the yearly harvest between
European colonists and the native communities of early America; and
WHEREAS, President George Washington proclaimed the first national day of
Thanksgiving in 1789, calling on all Americans to observe a day of public thanksgiving and
prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of
Almighty God; and
WHEREAS, in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln established our annual
Thanksgiving holiday, proclaiming the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving
and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens; and
WHEREAS, we, as Americans, carry on the tradition of Thanksgiving, and each year
set aside a day of thanks for the many blessings that have been bestowed upon our great
nation.
THEREFORE, in recognition of one of the oldest of American traditions, I, TOM
WOLF, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do hereby proclaim November 26,
2015, as THANKSGIVING DAY. I encourage all citizens to gather with family and friends on
this most special of days to give thanks for the gifts that have been bestowed on our
Commonwealth and our nation.

GIVEN under my hand and the Seal of the

Governor, at the City of Harrisburg, on this
twentieth day of November in the Year of our Lord
two thousand and fifteen, and of the
Commonwealth the two hundred and fortieth.

TOM WOLF
Governor