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Making Our World a Better Place

by Lois Bolin, Ph.D., Old Naples Historian
ovember is the time to Give Thanks! America’s Founders placed their honor and duty ahead of their
Well, every day is a day to give thanks, private rights and personal survival. Their conviction is shown in the
Nbut when we enter the month of “Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Their Taking up Arms,”
November, we step into a magical time of year which was approved by the Continental Congress in 1775.
when we choose to think of others and the Veterans
ways we can make the world a better place. Over a quarter of a million American men served in the
Two special days in November which trigger armed forces that won our independence. While the American
this lovely sentiment are Thanksgiving and republic owed its existence to them, the public found it difficult to
Veterans Day and woven into these special days is our acknowledge that debt, where common soldiers were held in low
connection to God. regard because they had served for pay, while officers were seen to be
November Connections motivated by enlightened patriotism.
Throughout American history, the idea of God’s connection In 1783, at the end of the Revolutionary War, the Continental
to man is prevalent and relevant because without those shared Army discharged its soldiers and disbanded. Those who survived
values, the idea of a United States and its principles could not became the first veterans of the United States of America—the
have been birthed. The Mayflower Compact and the Declaration world’s first veterans of an army of free men.
of Independence were established and held together by Since the Revolutionary War, approximately 41,892,128 fought
a belief in God. for this American Republic with approximately 1,243,189 military
The Mayflower Compact served as the foundation for the fatalities.
Declaration of Independence, where five references to God can Giving
be found, two in the first paragraph, one in the middle, and two George Washington issued the first Thanksgiving proclamation
in the last: …the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle… by the United States government in 1789. In 1846, Sarah Josepha
Who is responsible for “the laws of nature” but God… endowed Hale, the editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book, published the first of
by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights… our cause was many editorials encouraging the celebration of the “Great American
left to God as judge… with a firm reliance on the protection of Festival.” She hoped it would be a unifying holiday to avert a
Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, civil war. Seventeen years after those editorials in the middle of
our Fortunes, and our sacred honor. the Civil War, Lincoln finally issued a Thanksgiving national
The Declaration was followed by our Constitution, and the proclamation on October 3, 1863, asking his fellow citizens to “set
Bill of Rights, which are the three most important documents in apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a Day of
American history because they express the ideals that Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in
define “We the People of the United States” and inspire free the heavens.”
people around the world. Every American service member and Patriots Honored
law enforcement officer takes an oath to “support and defend Collier County will host two Veterans Day programs:
the Constitution of the United States.” The oath is not to the Monday, November 11, 2024
country, the government, or the flag. It is to the Constitution. 1-Collier County Veterans Council, Cambier Park at 10:30 a.m.
Thanksgiving 2-Marco Island’s Veterans, Community Park at 10:30 a.m.
The genesis of Thanksgiving began when the Pilgrims, A very special thanks to the CCSB member, Tim Moshier, for
financed by the Company of Merchant Adventurers of London, supporting the Women’s Republican Club of Naples Federated with
sailed to America in 1620. The Pilgrims understood that earlier their Patriot Readers program where special members visit local
settlements failed because no governing body or principles had schools (K-3) to read to the students about America.
been established, thus the Mayflower Compact was drafted – This Thanksgiving we can make the world a better place by
a covenant between God, man, and each other – the cornerstone affirming our faith and gratitude for the privilege of living in this
for later generation’s ‘sacred honor.’ Constitutional Republic for which so many fought and died
so that we may live in freedom.

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