Congressman Mike Ross' Thanksgiving message

Times are tough for many working families in this country. Although the economy is getting better and unemployment is declining, these positive changes are coming far too slowly. Still, too many Americans are unemployed and too many families continue to live paycheck to paycheck. It’s the reality of today’s economy, but there is some comfort in the future.

History tells us that for every major obstacle we’ve faced in this country – from two world wars to the Great Depression – we overcame those obstacles, emerging stronger than before. I have no doubt the will, determination and optimism of Americans will lead us through these trying times just as they always have.

November 24 is Thanksgiving Day and it’s an annual reminder to give thanks for the good things in our lives, no matter how tough times may be. In fact, the first federal recognition of Thanksgiving Day began in the midst of our nation’s darkest period: the Civil War.

While 1621 is recognized as the first Thanksgiving celebration between the Plymouth colonists and Native Americans, there was no formal nationwide recognition of the annual event until 1863. In that year, while the United States was waging a bloody civil war, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed that a national Thanksgiving Day should be held each November.

In the midst of all the turmoil, all the bloodshed and all the despair, President Lincoln called on Americans across the world to thank God for his “deliverances and blessings” and to ask that He “heal the wounds of the nation.” And, since 1863, no matter how trying the times, Americans have given thanks each and every year on Thanksgiving Day.

We have much to be grateful for in this country. We live in a free society where ideas can be shared without violence, where religion can be practiced without persecution and where democracy can thrive without interruption. This is America: the strongest, most prosperous and most free country the world has ever known. And, for that, we will always be thankful.

As your Congressman, I know this holiday season will continue to be tough for many of you, especially if you or someone you know is out of work. That’s why I will never stop fighting for you in Congress, working with both Democrats and Republicans, to rise above the political games to get the job done. It’s past time to get this economy moving again and to create more jobs for more Americans. We can overcome these tough times by working together and relying on that time-honored “can do” American spirit that has driven our country to succeed for the last 230 years and will continue to drive us for generations to come.