November Traditions: Gratitude, Citizenship and Valor

Lois Bolin, Ph.D., Old Naples Historian

Autumn has always been my favorite time of year. During my first year in paradise, I barely noticed the subtle changes the season brought. But after 48 years of calling Southwest Florida home, I have learned to treasure those understated moments—the shifting patterns of sunlight, lower humidity, gentle breezes and the fragrance of jasmine drifting across the lake.

In an instant, I am transported to memories of pumpkins, colorful mums and preparations for some of November’s oldest and most meaningful American traditions.

Election Day
It may not be our most festive tradition, but it is certainly one of our most important.

Federal Election Day is held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. In 1792, states were permitted to hold presidential elections at any point during the 34 days preceding the first Wednesday in December, when the Electoral College met.

For an agricultural nation, November made perfect sense: the harvest was largely complete, but the harshest winter weather had not yet arrived. As communication and transportation improved—particularly with the expansion of the telegraph and railroads—concerns grew that early election results could influence voters in states casting their ballots later. Congress eventually established a uniform Election Day.

Voting is more than a right; it is a privilege secured and protected by generations of Americans.

That connection is beautifully expressed through the Collier County Supervisor of Elections’ Vote in Honor of a Veteran initiative. The program invites residents to nominate a veteran or active-duty service member for inclusion on its virtual Honor Wall. The next time you vote, consider casting your ballot in honor of someone who served to protect that freedom. Visit CollierVotes.gov/VETERAN to share a veteran’s story or explore the Honor Wall.

Veterans Day
Veterans Day began as Armistice Day, commemorating the end of hostilities in World War I—the “Great War”—at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918.

Following World War II and the Korean War, Congress broadened the observance to recognize all who had served in the United States Armed Forces. In 1954, the 83rd Congress amended the 1938 law by replacing the word “Armistice” with “Veterans.” President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the legislation on June 1, officially establishing November 11 as Veterans Day—a day to honor American veterans of every era.

This year, Southwest Florida will mark the occasion with Veterans & Valor 2026, an evening when patriotism comes to life in a joyful celebration of America’s heroes.

The November 11 event begins at 6 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in Bonita Springs. Guests will gather for dinner and a patriotic program featuring Lt. Col. Allen West, U.S. Army (Ret.); Grammy Award-winning country music legend Lee Greenwood, the voice of “God Bless the U.S.A.”; and award-winning country artist and songwriter Ira Dean. Veterans, active-duty service members, Gold Star families and members of the community will come together in gratitude for those who answered our nation’s call.

Veterans Day reminds us that freedom is never simply inherited. It is defended, preserved and passed from one generation to the next by men and women willing to serve something greater than themselves.

Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is one of America’s most cherished traditions. In 1789, President George Washington issued a proclamation designating Nov. 26 as a national day of thanksgiving and prayer. Decades later, amid the darkness of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln called upon Americans to observe the last Thursday of November as a national day of Thanksgiving.

The tradition remained largely unchanged until 1939, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved
Thanksgiving forward by one week. He hoped that lengthening the Christmas shopping season would encourage retail spending during the final years of the Great Depression.

The change was quickly nicknamed “Franksgiving,” a combination of “Franklin” and “Thanksgiving.” The term was coined by Atlantic City Mayor Thomas D. Taggart Jr., and the decision created confusion and controversy across the country. Some states followed Roosevelt’s proclamation, while others continued observing the traditional date.

In 1941, Congress brought the calendar controversy to an end by establishing Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday in November, where it remains today.

Taken together, November’s traditions remind us of who we are as Americans. Election Day calls us to participate. Veterans Day asks us to remember. Thanksgiving invites us to pause and give thanks.

In the quieter light of a Naples/Collier County autumn, these traditions carry an even deeper meaning: gratitude for our blessings, respect for our responsibilities and enduring appreciation for those whose courage allows us to live in freedom.

See Dr. Bolin on 239LIVE Morning Show on Tues. and Fri., 10 a.m.-Noon; Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.

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