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The War Cry | NOVEMBER 2012
by
MAJOR FRANK
DURACHER
The Ageless
Thanksgiving Day
Turning Tragedy into Triumph
A
fledgling nation of pilgrims found themselves in a strange, hostile country. They were far away
from home. They felt abandoned. They especially feared the very real threat of extinction.
Religious freedom was their champion cause, for despite the dire circumstances in which they found
themselves, nothing was more important to them than their ongoing relationship with God.
When everything looked the bleakest, and their days on earth seemed to be numbered down to single�dig-
its, a miracle happened.
The miracle came from an unexpected source, and instead of slipping from the pages of history--forever
forgotten--their unforeseen survival propelled them to become a nation unparalleled in mankind's continuing
saga.
To this very day, a nation of people celebrates this ageless story with a Thanksgiving feast. Traditional
foods make their annual appearance and countless pageants re-enact the story so often that even little chil-
dren know the characters and the outcome by heart.
On this day the needs of the poor among us are more prominently noted--much more so than at other
times of the year. These Thanksgiving participants go out of their way to make sure that lesser privileged
citizens are lovingly cared for, fed and made a part of the festivities.
On this day a nation pauses to give thanks to God for achieving what they could not do for themselves.
The Pilgrims of Plymouth Rock in 1621?
N O . T H E E X I L E D I S R A E L I T E S I N P E R S I A , A B O U T 2 , 5 0 0 Y E A R S A G O .
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