A14 Thursday, November 28, 2013
The Plainville Citizen | plainvillecitizen.com
Opinion
Kennedy’s 1963 Thanksgiving message John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, was assassinated Nov. 22, 1963, an event that occurred 50 years ago this month. By the time this national tragedy unfolded, Kennedy had already penned his Thanksgiving Day address. The proclamation was dated Nov. 4, 1963 and released to public domain Nov. 5, 1963, by Secretary of State Dean Rusk. The new president, Lydon Johnson, asked that the late president’s address be made widely available to the public, urging churches, and others conducting public ceremonies, to use Kennedy’s words when commemorating Thanksgiving Day. Here is an excerpts from Johnson’s Thanksgiving Day remarks, followed by the complete text of President Kennedy’s holiday message. From President Johnson: To n i g h t , on this Thanksgiving, I come before you to ask your help, to ask your strength, to ask your prayers that God may guard this Republic and guide my every labor. All of us have lived through seven days that none of us will ever forget. We are not given the divine wisdom to answer why this has been, but we are given the human duty of determining what is to be, what is to be for America, for the world, for the cause we lead, for all the hopes that live
republic to “beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions... to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue . . . and generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.” And so too, in the midst of America’s tragic civil war, President Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November 1863 as a day to renew our gratitude for America’s “fruitful fields,” Kennedy.|NASA for our “national strength and vigor,” and for all our Thanksgiving message: in our hearts. “singular deliverances and Over three centuries ago, blessings.” A great leader is dead; a great Nation must move on. our forefathers in Virginia Much time has passed Yesterday is not ours to re- and in Massachusetts, far since the first colonists cover, but tomorrow is ours from home in a lonely wilto win or to lose. I am re- derness, set aside a time of solved that we shall win the thanksgiving. On the aptomorrows before us. So I ask pointed day, they gave revyou to join me in that resolve, erent thanks for their safety, determined that from this for the health of their chilmidnight of tragedy, we shall dren, for the fertility of their move toward a new American fields, for the love which bound them together and for greatness. More than any generation the faith which united them By Amy Flory Special to The Citizen before us, we have cause to with their God. So too when the colobe thankful, so thankful, on this Thanksgiving Day. Our nies achieved their indepenMany families will be harvests are bountiful, our dence, our first President traveling for the holidays, factories flourish, our homes in the first year of his first and after multiple cross are safe, our defenses are se- Administration proclaimed country trips with my kids, cure. We live in peace. The November 26, 1789, as “a day I have a handful of tips to good will of the world pours of public thanksgiving and share on air travel with prayer to be observed by acout for us. small children. Today, we But more than these bless- knowledging with grateful discuss flying with babies, ings, we know tonight that hearts the many signal favors from birth to 12 months. of Almighty God” and called our system is strong. Save money by flying President Kennedy’s upon the people of the new with your child as a lap baby. Any child over two is required to have a purchased seat, but before Advertising Director – Kimberley E. Boath two, kids can fly free. My Advertising Manager – Christine Nadeau kids were lap babies as Press Releases – Latoshia Williams long as possible. www.plainvillecitizen.com If you are traveling with CONTACT US P.O. Box 57 a lap baby, see if the gate Advertising: (203) 317-2327 Plainville, CT 06062 attendant can put you next Fax (203) 235-4048 to an empty seat. I’ve had advertising@plainvillecitizen.com News Reporter – Julie Sopchak quite a bit of success with News and Sports: (860) 620-5960 Sports – Nate Brown this request. Fax (203) 639-0210 News Editor – Olivia L. Lawrence If you do purchase a news@plainvillecitizen.com Assistant News Editor – Nick Carroll seat, bring the car seat. If sports@plainvillecitizen.com your child has a purchased Marketplace: (203) 238-1953 Executive Vice President and Assistant set, the FAA recommends Publisher – Liz White infants are placed in a Published every Thursday by the RecordSenior Vice President of Operations and rear-facing, airplane apJournal Publishing Co. Delivered by mail to Major Accounts – Michael F. Killian proved child restraint sysall of the homes and businesses in Plainville Senior Vice President tem. Babies usually like – 06062. and Editor – Ralph Tomaselli
came to rocky shores and dark forests of an unknown continent, much time since President Washington led a young people into the experience of nationhood, much time since President Lincoln saw the American nation through the ordeal of fraternal war--and in these years our population, our plenty and our power have all grown apace. Today we are a nation of nearly two hundred million souls, stretching from coast to coast, on into the Pacific and north toward the Arctic, a nation enjoying the fruits of an ever-expanding agriculture and industry and achieving standards of See Message / Page 15
Travel with baby made easier to sleep in their car seats, both at the airport and on the plane. Car seats can be gate checked if your child is lap baby. Wear your infant. Using a child carrier, your hands will be free and your child will be snug. On the plane, some flight crews don’t allow babies to be in the carrier for takeoff and landing, but some do. Be prepared for either scenario. Bring a stroller that folds up easily. Make sure any layovers are long enough to retrieve the stroller and still make it to your next gate. Pre-board. Passengers traveling with little ones are given the opportunity to pre-board. Getting your baby settled before takeoff can be great. If you are on a flight that doesn’t have assigned seats, pre-boarding makes for a great seat selection. Sit in the back, unless you have a tight connecSee Travel / Page 17