Thanksgiving Proclamation President George Washington City of New York, October 3, 1789 Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor, and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness." Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks, for his kind care and protection of the People of this country previous to their becoming a Nation, for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war, for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed, for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us. And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions, to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually, to render our national government a blessing to all the People, by constantly being a government of wise, just and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed, to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord. To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and Us, and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Washington Resigns His Commission: 1783

General of the Army George Washington 

resigns his commission before Congress 

assembled at Annapolis, Maryland; 

December 23, 1783

"The great events on which my resignation
depended, having at length taken place, I have now the honor
of offering my sincere congratulations to Congress, and of
presenting myself before them, to surrender into their hands
the trust committed to me, and to claim the indulgence of re-
tiring from the service of my country...

I consider it an indispensable duty to close this last act of
my official life by commending the interests of our dearest
country to the protection of Almighty God, and those who
have the superintendence of them to his holy keeping.
Having now finished the work assigned me, I retire from
the great theatre of action, and bidding an affectionate
farewell to this august body, under whose orders I have so
long acted, I here offer my commission, and take my leave of
all the employments of public life."

From: "George Washington and Thomas Mifflin:
Speeches in the Continental Congress"
Above Quote Source: Library of America-Story of the Week