Hello DCS Engineering and welcome to our weekly reminder where I do my best to remind us of the purpose in the work we do together. This week I’m thinking about thanksgiving. A quick internet search took me to the History Channel website. The first thanksgiving celebration was in 1621 but it wasn’t until 1863 in the middle of the Civil War that President Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving Day to be held each November. Now I know what you’re thinking. There are lots of quotes and saying attributed to Lincoln on the internet. One of my favorites, that is NOT something Lincoln ever said was “the best way to predict the future is to create it” – I liked it so much I put it on a wall once with Lincoln’s name attached. And then I learned it wasn’t something honest Abe ever said. So, I’ve learned the hard way to be cautious about what you read on the internet especially if it’s attributed to President Lincoln. So I cross checked this and ended up pretty confident that I had the history right here. Pilgrims held their second Thanksgiving celebration in 1623 to mark the end of a long drought that had threatened the year’s harvest and prompted Governor Bradford to call for a religious fast. During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress designated one or more days of thanksgiving a year, and in 1789 George Washington issued the first Thanksgiving proclamation by the national government of the United States; in it, he called upon Americans to express their gratitude for the happy conclusion to the country’s war of independence and the successful ratification of the U.S. Constitution. His successors John Adams and James Madison also designated days of thanks during their presidencies. And in 1817, New York became the first of several states to officially adopt an annual Thanksgiving holiday; each celebrated it on a different day. But back to President Lincoln. This year I read Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin and after reading that, I’m amazed that during the civil war with all the personal and national tragedy surrounding him, he chose then to ask the nation to stop and give thanks. And it’s a good reminder for me – in amongst the chaos and sadness and loss that comes, to even then, maybe most of all then, live in gratitude. Lincoln’s proclamation said: “Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do hereby appoint and set apart the last Thursday in November next as a day which I desire to be observed by all my fellow-citizens, wherever they may then be, as a day of thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God, the beneficent Creator and Ruler of the Universe.” So I hope as you look ahead to this thanksgiving holiday you will take time to give thanks and practice gratitude. Speaking of which, I’m sure thankful for each of you. For who you are, the way you work, and your contributions to DCS and our team. I hope you each have a Happy Thanksgiving!