On October 3, 1863, President Lincoln issued a proclamation designating "the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving." A year later, citizens would organize a special Thanksgiving dinner for Federal soldiers and sailors to show the public's appreciation for their service and sacrifice.
Today, I'd like to share my appreciation for you. Thanks to your support this year, we crossed the thresholds of 50,000 acres preserved for future generations and 20,000 students sent to battlefields and historic sites through our Field Trip Fund. We preserved hallowed ground at Princeton, Gettysburg and Yorktown and were chosen to help lead the 250th commemoration of the founding of the United States.
If you have two minutes today, please watch the Trust's year in review video for a brief summary of all the incredible things you made possible in 2018. Of course, two minutes isn't nearly enough time to express my awe and gratitude for your dedication to battlefield preservation – but it's a start!
Simply put, the successes of this year would not have been possible without your generosity. Whatever you're doing on this day of thanks, please know how much your support means – not just to me and my colleagues, but to generations of Americans, present and future. From all of us at the Trust, warmest wishes for a very Happy Thanksgiving.
With deepest gratitude,
Jim Lighthizer
President
American Battlefield Trust
P.S. I hope you are enjoying this day of thanks with your friends and family. This two-minute video summarizes all of your accomplishments in 2018. Thank you for your steadfast support.