Archive for November 25th, 2010

November 25th, 2010

Lowell Blogger Gathering on December 4th

by DickH

The city of Lowell is home to an incredible blogosphere that becomes more active with each passing day. Life on-line can be greatly enhanced, however, when its participants get together on the ground and so we invite all area bloggers, commenters, readers, social media-users and anyone else interested to gather together next Saturday, December 4, 2010 at Top Donut at 700 Aiken Street in Lowell from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. There’s no agenda, no schedule, no formalities – just a casual meet-up to share a coffee and some conversation at a local business that has plenty of room and plenty of parking. We hope to see everyone on the 4th.

What: Get-together of area bloggers
When: Saturday, December 4, 2010 from 9 am to 11 am
Where: Top Donut, 700 Aiken Street, Lowell (corner of Aiken St & VFW Highway)
Why: Why not?

CategoryLowell | Comment4 Comments »

November 25th, 2010

Memorable Thanksgivings

by DickH

Today was a wonderful day: outstanding late fall weather, great coverage of local high school football by WCAP to accompany food prep, friends and family over for a relaxed, more-than-filling turkey dinner, plenty of leftovers, a Patriots win, and Keith Urban performing at halftime of the Cowboys game (disregard that last one – just seeing if you were paying attention).

But holidays make me nostalgic and today was no different, so I searched my memory for a Thanksgiving that really stands out. My most memorable Thanksgiving occurred thirty years ago in 1980. Just a week earlier on my 22nd birthday I arrived in West Germany to begin a three year tour of duty with the US Army. Still living out of my duffel bag and sleeping in an attic room of the family housing complex while waiting for space in the BOQ (Bachelor Officers Quarters) to come available, I wasn’t settled enough to be lonely on my first holiday out of the country. But no one is allowed to be lonely on Thanksgiving in the military. Clad in their dress blues, commanders join their unaccompanied troops at the mess hall for a banquet that’s a year in the planning. Those with families gather together in military housing for shared feasts. I was fortunate to be invited to such a dinner and spent a wonderful day with a group of just-met colleagues and their families who treated me like a longtime friend. I’ll always remember that day.

That’s my story. I’m sure everyone has a similar tale to tell. Please share yours.

CategoryCulture | CommentNo Comments »

November 25th, 2010

More Pollard Library stained glass

by DickH

More images of stained glass windows at the Pollard Memorial Library. Photos by Tony Sampas.

CategoryLowell | Comment3 Comments »

November 25th, 2010

Iconic Images of Thanksgiving Day

by Marie

 

  

Detail from “The First Thanksgiving” (1914), by Jennie Augusta Brownscombe (1850-1936),  oil on canvas, Pilgrim Hall Museum, Plymouth, Massachusetts

“Home to Thanksgiving” Currier & Ives lithograph, 1867 – This image was illustrated by George H. Durrie

“Freedom From Want” -  Norman Rockwell – Saturday Evening Post Cover, 1943

CategoryCulture, History | CommentNo Comments »

November 25th, 2010

President Kennedy’s Thanksgiving Day Proclamation and Pardon, 1963

by Marie

President John F. Kennedy pardoning the Thanksgiving turkey – November 18, 1963
Courtesy John F. Kennedy Presidential Library

…Today we give our thanks, most of all, for the ideals of honor and faith we inherit from our forefathers – for the decency of purpose, steadfastness of resolve and strength of will, for the courage and the humility, which they possessed and which we must seek every day to emulate. As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.
Let us therefore proclaim our gratitude to Providence for manifold blessings – let us be humbly thankful for inherited ideals – and let us resolve to share those blessings and those ideals with our fellow human beings throughout the world.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOHN F. KENNEDY, President of the United States of America, in consonance with the joint resolution of the Congress approved December 26, 1941, 55 Stat. 862 (5 U.S.C. 87b), designating the fourth Thursday of November in each year as Thanksgiving Day, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 28, 1963, as a day of national thanksgiving.
On that day let us gather in sanctuaries dedicated to worship and in homes blessed by family affection to express our gratitude for the glorious gifts of God; and let us earnestly and humbly pray that He will continue to guide and sustain us in the great unfinished tasks of achieving peace, justice, and understanding among all men and nations and of ending misery and suffering wherever they exist.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States of America to be affixed.
DONE at the City of Washington this fourth day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and eighty-eighth.
John F. Kennedy

President John F. Kennedy didn’t live to give thanks on Thanksgiving Day November 28, 1963. President Lyndon Johnson included these words in his Thanksgiving Day message:

On this Thanksgiving Day, as we gather in the warmth of our families, in the mutual love and respect which we have for one another, and as we bow our heads in submission to divine providence, let us also thank God for the years that He gave us inspiration through His servant, John F. Kennedy.

CategoryCulture, History | Comment3 Comments »