Wing Chaplain reflects on Thanksgiving: then, now Published Nov. 22, 2011 By Chaplain (Col.) Timothy Wagoner Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Wing Chaplain JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Colonists celebrated the first Thanksgiving Day during their second winter in America. Governor William Bradford, Dec.13, 1621, issued a decree which set aside a day for prayer and thanksgiving. His heart was heavy as he planned for a day of thanksgiving, because his wife drowned as the Mayflower made land. The harvest had been plenteous and thanksgiving was appropriate because God had seen them through the difficult winter. More than 102 colonists arrived from England that winter in search of a place where they could worship freely. Nearly half of them, 42, died within the first year. Of the 18 wives who sailed, only 4 survived. Fortunately, some local Native Americans befriended the struggling survivors and shared with them the necessary wisdom to survive the harsh climate. The women spent days preparing food in preparation for the festive day. Native fruits, vegetables and wild turkeys were abundant. The children kept busy turning succulent roasts on pits over open fires. The Native Americans were invited to come and share the pilgrims bounty. They brought wild turkeys and venison as their share of the feast. The first Thanksgiving Day was not just one of feasting, but a day for prayers, songs and sermons of praise. Three days were spent in feasting and prayer, then the Native Americans returned to the forests and the colonists returned to their work. One hundred sixty eight years later, in 1789, President George Washington issued the first presidential Thanksgiving Day proclamation in honor of the new constitution that had just been ratified. Listen to some of the words from that proclamation: "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 favors...Now, therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 24th of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the benevolent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in tendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks for his kind care and protector of the people of this country, and for all the great and various favors which he has been pleased to confer upon us." So what meaning does Thanksgiving Day 2011 hold for Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, Airmen, families and civilians across Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst? We, like those who have gone before us, are thankful for the peace, prosperity and preservation of our nation; we are thankful for our families; we are thankful for our democratic way of life and the opportunities we have to share this value with interested nations of the world; and finally, we are thankful for the freedom to enter into a relationship with God and worship according to our conscience. America is blessed to be a place where its citizens are free to worship in an amazing fabric of churches, synagogues, temples and mosques; or free not to worship at all. What am I thankful for today? I am thankful for the men and women who have responded to their nations highest calling -- the profession of arms -- those who humbly accept sacrifice as a normal part of daily life. Those who, when called upon, will bravely lay down their lives for their brothers, sisters and great ideals. May God bless the men and women and families of JB MDL as we do our part to preserve the four great freedoms--freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear. These lofty ideals give meaning to the celebration of Thanksgiving Day--then and now.