Accessibility menu
State Representative Joyce Peppin
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-7806
For more information contact: Austin Bleess 651-296-5529
NEWS COLUMN
THANKSGIVING HAS EARLY ROOTS IN MINNESOTA
By Joyce Peppin
State Representative, District 32A
Did you know that Minnesota was one of the first states to officially celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday?
At the urging of magazine editor Sarah Hale, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a “National Day of Thanksgiving.” That was in 1863. But 13 years earlier in 1850, then Minnesota territorial Governor Alexander Ramsey proclaimed December 26, 1850, as a day of thanksgiving here. Gov. Ramsey said: “Let us in the public temple of religion, by the fireside and family altar, on the prairie and in the forest, join in the expression of our gratitude, of our devotion to the God who brought our fathers safely through the perils of an early revolution, and who thus continues his favors to the remotest colonies of his sons.” The Minnesota territory then included Minnesota and the Dakotas as far west as the Missouri River. There were but 6,000 settlers.
More than 150 years later, Minnesota’s Thanksgiving continues to be a special event. Families gather, sometimes traveling great distances to be with parents and siblings. And while we endure far fewer hardships than the population during Gov. Ramsey’s time, we continue to be thankful for many of the same things – good health, strong families, our safety and well being.
But while Ramsey and all our forefathers had much to be thankful for, we have even more in which to be thankful for 2005. We still have freedom after all this time. We are blessed to live in a country where we are free to worship and practice the religion of our choice. We are among the few who live in a country in which we can disagree with our government and our elected officials publicly without fear of retaliation. We are allowed to vote in democratic elections and we have peaceful and orderly transfers of power administration to administration. Our country and our people have truly been blessed.
Talking Turkey
As you are enjoying your turkey this thanksgiving and thinking about all the things in which you are thankful, you may be interested to know that Minnesota is the nation’s leader in the production of turkeys. In 2004, the state’s turkey production was valued at more than half a billion dollars. Minnesota growers raised d 46.5 million turkeys, or 1.23 billion pounds. Using the state’s estimated population of 5,100,000 residents, that works out to 241 pounds of turkey per Minnesotan! So turkeys are helping Minnesota's economy. Yet another reason to be thankful.
Have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving weekend! It is one of my favorite holidays and I hope it is one of yours, too.
Rep. Peppin represents District 32A, which includes the communities of Corcoran, Dayton, Greenfield, Hanover, Rogers, Hassan Township, and southwestern Maple Grove. Peppin invites anyone to share their questions or comments about state government with her. She may be reached by email at rep.joyce.peppin@house.mn; by phone at (651) 296-7806; or by U.S. Mail at 411 State Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155.
-30-
News Items
- PEPPIN REPORT: NW SUBURBAN FAMILIES WILL BE HIT HARD UNDER DAYTON AND DFL BUDGET - (Posted: May 28 2013 4:35PM)
- Rep. Peppin’s bill would lessen unfair fiscal disparities tax burden on Rogers - (Posted: Apr 3 2013 9:36AM)
- PEPPIN REPORT: FEBRUARY FORECAST REVEALS FOURTH CONSECUTIVE STATE SURPLUS - (Posted: Feb 28 2013 12:00AM)
- Archived News Items
- Subscribe to RSS News Feeds
- Read more about RSS.