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Thank You, Sarah | Cashiers Historical Society
Written By: Sandi Rogers, Cashiers Historical Society | Issue: November 2023
A reminder from – naturally – the Cashiers Historical Society, that Thanksgiving is designed to foster gratitude for whatever our circumstances may deliver.
We take the turkey, dressing and cranberry sauce for granted, but if it were not for Sarah Hale whose persistence for over 38 years led to Thanksgiving being named a national holiday, there might not be a Thanksgiving.
Since 1849 Sarah had written every president and in her final letter written to President Abraham Lincoln, she once again is requesting a national holiday.
Her letter to Lincoln begins “Permit me, as Editress of the Lady’s Book (Godey’s) to request a few minutes of your precious time, while laying out the subject of deep interest to myself and – as I trust – even to the President of our Republic, of some importance. This subject is to have the day of our annual Thanksgiving, a National and fixed Union Festival.”
The letter continues for several paragraphs with Sarah achieving her wish. President Lincoln issued a proclamation that urged Americans to observe the last Thursday in November as a day of thanksgiving.
Finally in 1941 Congress made Thanksgiving an official National holiday with all states celebrating on the same day.
Unfortunately, Ms. Hale died in 1879 never seeing the success of her persistence that started in 1849 with a campaign of writing letters to each of the presidents.
In 2023 Americans can once again thank Sarah Hale for saving Thanksgiving as we all enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving meal.
