Happy Thanksgiving from Braille Works

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Give Thanks and Count Your Blessings

Thanksgiving is a time for all of us to give thanks for the blessings in our life; even during a difficult year. Thanksgiving is also a time of inclusion. People who have a disability are often excluded from activities simply because those activities aren’t accessible. Let’s change that.

Today, we thank our many customers for being conscientious of the need for inclusion of people who have varying degrees of abilities. We also thank the many legislators and advocates who understand the need for inclusion and work for equality for people with disabilities.

Last, but certainly not least, we thank our team members who work hard every day ensuring people with visual and cognitive disabilities receive the best quality documents possible. Our team members positively impact the lives of people with disabilities one document at a time. We are grateful for their efforts and thankful to have them as part of our team.

We encourage you to set aside a little time to reflect, be thankful, and count your blessings.

We hope you have a blessed and wonderful Thanksgiving Day.

The words Happy Thanksgiving in print and braille surrounded by small pumpkins, autumn leaves, and a decorated plate with the Braille Works logo

The True History of Thanksgiving

Ok, the story of the feast involving the Pilgrims and indigenous peoples is heartwarming.  There is historical evidence to show that feasts like these occurred, but they are not the true origin of our Thanksgiving Day celebration.

In 1789, both Houses of Congress requested that the President, George Washington, recommend to the people of the United States a “DAY OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING and PRAYER” to God.  Below is the text from his proclamation and a copy of the Massachusetts Sentinel where the proclamation was published.

General Thanksgiving

By the PRESIDENT of the United States Of America

A PROCLAMATION

General Thanksgiving Proclamation written by George Washington in 1789

WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”

NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;– for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;– for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;– and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions — to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.

Originally published November 25, 2015

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