Offering thanks to “the author of life,” President Bush urged Americans to count their blessings Monday in an unapologetically religious speech about Thanksgiving.
“We give thanks to the author of life, who granted our forefathers safe passage to this land, who gives every man, woman and child on the face of the Earth the gift of freedom, and who watches over our nation every day,” Bush told an audience in Charles City, Va.
The president was speaking at Berkeley Plantation, which claims to be the site of America’s first Thanksgiving in 1619, or two years before Pilgrims and Indians held their first Thanksgiving feast at Plymouth, Mass.
“The good folks here say that the founders of Berkeley held their celebration before the Pilgrims had even left port,” Bush said. “As you can imagine, this version of events is not very popular up north.”
Bush gave thanks for police officers, firefighters and U.S. military members who “will spend Thanksgiving far from the comforts of home.” He has no public events on his schedule for the Thanksgiving weekend, though he theoretically could reprise one of his surprise visits to U.S. troops in Iraq or Afghanistan.
During his speech on the banks of the James River, Bush singled out several Americans by name for special thanks.
“We remember the Virginia Tech professor who died blocking a gunman from entering his classroom,” the president said, drawing applause. “As a survivor of the Holocaust, professor Liveu Liviescu had seen the worst of humanity. Yet through his sacrifice, he showed us the best.”
Before the speech, Bush visited a food bank that distributes million of pounds of food to needy families in the Richmond area. He encouraged citizens to donate to such charities.
“As we count our many blessings, I encourage all Americans to show their thanks by giving back,” he said. “There are many ways to spread hope this holiday: Volunteer in a shelter; mentor a child; help an elderly neighbor; say thanks to one who wears our nation’s uniform.”
