Dear Branson Community,
As I was doing a little historical reading, I found President Eisenhower's 1957 Thanksgiving Proclamation that I believe is very fitting this year:
"At the autumnal season of the year our hearts move us to follow the wise and reverent custom, inaugurated by our Pilgrim Fathers…, of setting aside one special day for expressions of gratitude to a merciful Providence for the blessings bestowed upon us. It behooves us to dwell upon the deep religious convictions of those who formed our Nation out of a wilderness, and to recall that our leaders throughout the succeeding generations have relied upon Almighty God for vision and strength of purpose…in accordance with our hallowed custom, foregather in our respective places of worship or in our homes and offer up prayers of thanks for our manifold blessings. Let the happiness which stems from family reunions on Thanksgiving Day be tempered with compassion and inspired by an active concern for those less fortunate in our own country and in other lands; and let us ask God's continuing help and guidance in our conduct, both as individuals and as a Nation."
Karen and I wish all of you a very safe, blessed, and enjoyable Thanksgiving. We hope you have the opportunity to safely meet with friends and family and have a little bit of rest and relaxation.
Thank you for letting me serve you.
Mayor Edd Akers