Thursday 26 November 2009

Happy Thanksgiving, America!


"The year
that is drawing towards its close,
has been filled with the blessings
of fruitful fields and healthful skies.
To these bounties,
which are so constantly enjoyed
that we are prone to forget
the source from which they come,
others have been added,
which are of so extraordinary a nature,


that they cannot fail
to penetrate and soften even the heart
which is habitually insensible
to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.
It has seemed to me fit and proper
that they should be solemnly,
reverently and gratefully acknowledged
as with one heart and voice
by the whole American people.


I do therefore invite my fellow citizens
in every part of the United States,
and also those who are at sea
and those who are sojourning in foreign lands,
to set apart and observe
the last Thursday of November next,
as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise
to our beneficent Father
who dwelleth in the Heavens.


And I recommend to them that
while offering up the ascriptions
justly due to Him for such singular deliverances
and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence
for our national perverseness and disobedience,
commend to his tender care all those
who have become widows, orphans, mourners
or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife
in which we are unavoidably engaged,


and fervently implore
the interposition of the Almighty Hand
to heal the wounds of the nation
and to restore it as soon as may be consistent
with the Divine purpose
to the full enjoyment of peace,
harmony, tranquillity and Union."

Quoted from
"A Declaration of Thanksgiving"
Abraham Lincoln's Manifesto of Gratitude
October 3, 1863


Photographed in 2009
in the fields and meadows of
Lake Neusiedl-Seewinkel
National Park

© by Merisi

Lake Neusiedl is located
less than an hour's drive
south of Vienna

28 comments:

  1. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

    The images can be enlarged. ;-)

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  2. Beautiful. Thank you for thinking of us. A beautiful day to you too.

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  3. What a lovely landscape, realy beautiful pictures to celebrate a very beautiful american tradition!
    Bjs

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  4. So that's where it all started, eh? :)

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  5. Those words are as pertinent now as they were then.
    Your photos are wonderful.

    Happy Thanksgiving dear Merisi.

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  6. Thank you, Merisi. That was lovely.

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  7. Thank you so much Merisi! Exquisite photos. I love Lincoln- and his words are most welcome! Very special.

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  8. Merisi, thank you so much for those beautiful words and pictures.

    I've been over to view a bit of the Macy's parade this morning, and while lots of fun, it just seems a bit far from the eloqence you've posted.

    xo

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  9. Lovely images of Autumn and poignant words. Beautiful, Merisi!! Happy Thanksgiving to you, too!
    ~Allie

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  10. Hi,

    Thanks for the pictures of America. Let me return the favor with www.americathebeautiful.us

    Best, jj

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  11. A perfectly lovely post, Merisi. Happy T day to you and yours. :)

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  12. Thank you, Merisi! This is a beautiful, beautiful post, both the photos and the words.

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  13. Thank you for these images and Abe's words. Beautiful.

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  14. President Lincoln spoke the most magnificent words...thank you! And your photos are simply perfect! I expecially like the fourth one...such rich color!!! Happy Thanksgiving to you too, dear Merisi! ~Janine XO

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  15. Thank you from New York!

    And a Happy Thanksgiving to you!

    Cheers,
    M

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  16. Beautiful, gorgeous pictures of Burgenland!

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  17. We are thankful indeed!
    Lovely photos.
    We had a mini United Nations for Thanksgiving.
    A Pole, a Turk, a Columbian, an English person....
    it was such fun.
    For two people it was his and her first Thanksgiving.
    All best wishes.

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  18. The lighting, colors, and composition in your series of shots is perfect! Just gorgeous...makes me hope that autumn never ends in your parts.Hhappy Thanksgiving and skywatching...

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  19. Absolutely lovely sky and country scenes! Thank you for thinking of us Americans on our annual day of thanksgiving to God for all our blessings.

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  20. I love Burgenland. I visited Breitenbrunn several times (I have friends there). The first photo should really be a painting. Mind if I save it as the wallpaper on my desktop?

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  21. Thank you for the beautiful pictures and the reminder of what the day should mean to all Americans.

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  22. Lovely, simply divine photographs. The words tagged along with images were perfect.
    Joyce-Illinois

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  23. Lovely photos! I have never read the whole Declaration of Thanksgiving before!

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  24. Abraham's declaration of Thanksgiving is awesome - thank you for sharing -I have never heard it.
    Your last pic is stunning!

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  25. Awesome photos. Thank you, dear Merisi. I'm thankful for you and your blog.

    Paz

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  26. Thank You very much for the comment & nice words from you.
    You too have many great photo to share its wonderful,all of them.
    PS: Happy Thanksgiving.

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  27. What a BEAUTIFUL blog you have ... filled with lovely images and delightful words. It's a pleasure to meet you in this virtual world.
    Hugs and blessings,

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