The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
A Proclamation
Whereas, After the first harvest in 1621, the Pilgrims broke bread, gave thanks, and celebrated in Plymouth, observing the first Thanksgiving thanks to the generosity and support of the Wampanoag people; and
Whereas, During the American Revolution in November 1777, the Continental Congress proclaimed a day of Thanksgiving. Samuel Adams, a son of Massachusetts, wrote, “…for solemn thanksgiving and praise, that with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts and consecrate themselves to the service of their divine benefactor;” and
Whereas, With the country torn by a civil war, Abraham Lincoln urged his fellow Americans to gather and give thanks during one of the most difficult times of our nation’s history. After establishing Thanksgiving as a national holiday in 1864, Lincoln wrote, “To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God;” and
Whereas, Since the creation of the Commission on Indian Affairs in Massachusetts in 1976 the Commonwealth continues to recognize our Indigenous Tribes and the important role they play in stewarding our land and natural resources; and
Whereas, Executive Order 637 signed on November 19th, 2024 gives state recognition to the Herring Pond Wampanoag, there is still a lot of work to be done to empower, prioritize and center the lives, culture and heritage of Indigenous people of Massachusetts; and
Whereas, We have much to be thankful for in Massachusetts. We’re thankful to the firefighters and first responders who have been heroically fighting wildfires across our state in recent weeks. We’re thankful for the young people who inspire us every day to deliver for them and make their future brighter. We’re thankful to the doctors, nurses, health care workers and staff who provide essential care to patients each and every day. We’re thankful that Massachusetts is always at the forefront of discovery in life sciences and proud of Nobel Prize winners Victor Ambros of UMass Chan Medical School, Gary Ruvkun of Massachusetts General Hospital, and Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for pioneering world-changing, live-saving breakthroughs. We’re thankful for our veterans who have risked it all for their country and We’re pleased to be delivering them brand new, state-of-the-art veterans” homes and ensuring they receive the care and benefits they deserve. We’re thankful for the men and women of law enforcement who keep our communities safe, and we are holding in our hearts those we have lost this year. We’re thankful for the educators and staff who help our students learn, grow and thrive. We’re thankful for everyone who has committed themselves to public service, especially at the local level where they are having a direct and meaningful impact on their communities. We’re thankful for the beauty of our parks, wildlife and natural world, including West Stockbridge’s own blue spruce that is the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree this year. We’re thankful to the Boston Celtics for bringing home Banner 18 and to the Boston Fleet for making us so proud in the PWHL Championship. We’re thankful for the heart, talent and grit of the people of Massachusetts, always; and
Whereas, In this season of thanks, we should take the time to remember and reach out to our neighbors in need by providing a helping hand, working in a food pantry or kitchen, donating clothing or volunteering in our communities; and
Whereas, Today, as families and friends across Massachusetts and the country gather together, may we be mindful of our gifts and talents, our blessings, relationships and goodwill, the peace we enjoy, the liberty we cherish and the hope we have for a joyful year ahead,
Now, Therefore, I, Maura T. Healey, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim November 28th, 2024, to be,
THANKSGIVING DAY
And urge all residents of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance. Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston, this twenty-eighth day of November, in the year two thousand and twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the two hundred and forty-eighth. By Her Excellency Maura T. Healey, Governor of the Commonwealth
Kimberley Driscoll, Lt. Governor of the Commonwealth
William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth
God Save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
