As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.

John F. Kennedy

The Highest Appreciation

Theme: Gratefulness

Today we give our thanks, most of all, for the ideals of honor and faith we inherit from our forefathers—for the decency of purpose, steadfastness of resolve and strength of will, for the courage and the humility, which they possessed and which we must seek every day to emulate. As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.

John F. Kennedy

John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often known as JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from January 1961 until his assassination in November 1963. A member of the influential Kennedy family, JFK left an indelible mark on American politics with his charismatic leadership, inspiring speeches, and pioneering efforts in civil rights and space exploration. His life was characterized by personal courage, political ambition, and a relentless commitment to public service. Despite his tragically abbreviated term in office, Kennedy’s legacy continues to shape modern American political discourse and policy.

Born on May 29, 1917, in Brookline, Massachusetts, Kennedy was the second of nine children in a wealthy and politically connected Irish-American family. He studied at Harvard University and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, where his heroic actions following the sinking of his patrol torpedo boat earned him the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. After the war, Kennedy entered politics, serving in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate for the state of Massachusetts. His charisma and dynamic speeches quickly marked him as a rising star in the Democratic Party, culminating in his narrow but momentous victory over Richard Nixon in the 1960 presidential election.

As president, Kennedy faced numerous challenges both at home and abroad. Internationally, his administration dealt with the Bay of Pigs Invasion, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the building of the Berlin Wall, and the early stages of the Vietnam War. On the home front, he proposed sweeping civil rights legislation and launched the ambitious Apollo program, which would eventually land a man on the moon. However, his promising second term was cut short when he was assassinated on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas. Kennedy's death was a shocking event that stunned the nation and the world, but his enduring influence on American society and politics remains significant. His idealistic vision for America, encapsulated in his call to "ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country," continues to inspire and motivate generations.

(1917-1963) American Civil Religion

John F. Kennedy, Proclamation 3560—Thanksgiving Day, 1963 Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/236639

John F. Kennedy

Theme: Gratefulness

John F. Kennedy, Proclamation 3560—Thanksgiving Day, November 05, 1963 [Excerpt].

Much time has passed since the first colonists came to rocky shores and dark forests of an unknown continent, much time since President Washington led a young people into the experience of nationhood, much time since President Lincoln saw the American nation through the ordeal of fraternal war—and in these years our population, our plenty and our power have all grown apace. Today we are a nation of nearly two hundred million souls, stretching from coast to coast, on into the Pacific and north toward the Arctic, a nation enjoying the fruits of an ever-expanding agriculture and industry and achieving standards of living unknown in previous history. We give our humble thanks for this.

Yet, as our power has grown, so has our peril. Today we give our thanks, most of all, for the ideals of honor and faith we inherit from our forefathers—for the decency of purpose, steadfastness of resolve and strength of will, for the courage and the humility, which they possessed and which we must seek every day to emulate. As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.

Let us therefore proclaim our gratitude to Providence for manifold blessings—let us be humbly thankful for inherited ideals—and let us resolve to share those blessings and those ideals with our fellow human beings throughout the world.

—John F. Kennedy, Proclamation 3560—Thanksgiving Day, 1963.

An American Tradition of Gratefulness

John F. Kennedy, a symbol of idealism and hope, sought to live his life in embodiment of the principles he so eloquently advocated in his Thanksgiving Proclamation. The tradition of gratitude, as cherished by JFK, can be traced back to the presidencies of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Both leaders understood the importance of acknowledging the providence that had seen their nation through trying times. Washington, in his resolve, exhibited ‘the strength of will,’ while Lincoln’s leadership during the Civil War embodied ‘the courage and the humility.’ These former presidents, like Kennedy, appreciated that gratitude was a principle to be lived rather than merely spoken. The noble attributes and actions of these great leaders reflect the ‘honor and faith’ that JFK regarded as the inheritance from America’s forefathers.

Today, as we face our own challenges and perils, Kennedy’s words continue to resonate with timeless wisdom. His clarion call to ‘proclaim our gratitude to Providence for manifold blessings’ serves as a reminder to honor our inherited ideals, while his challenge to share these blessings and ideals with fellow human beings urges us to ensure that our gratitude transcends borders. In his life, love for family, and leadership, JFK sought to embody the essence of his own proclamation, reminding us that genuine gratitude lies not in words but in living a life that reflects those words.

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John F. Kennedy, Proclamation 3560—Thanksgiving Day, November 05, 1963.

The Highest Appreciation

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