| Dear Friends:
In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson completed the Louisiana Purchase
and commissioned the Lewis & Clark expedition to explore our
newly acquired territory, which doubled the size of our country.
Jefferson's vision created a land of liberty that stretched from
sea to shining sea. This year, we celebrate the bi-centennial of
those events. The bestseller, Undaunted Courage, written by Wisconsin
native, Stephen E. Ambrose, chronicled the adventures of the two
American soldiers, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, as they led
America's journey to the Pacific Ocean.
As we approach our national day of Thanksgiving, we are thankful
for the undaunted courage of our Armed Forces around the world.
Their bravery in foreign lands is made possible by the sacrifices
of their loved ones here who pray for their safety and await their
return.
During the season of the year when we focus on our American heritage,
I would like to share some thoughts with you from Charles W. Colson,
Chair of Prison Fellowship Ministries, which were inspired by our
nation's first expression of its ideals written by Thomas Jefferson.
Hopefully his thoughts help put our nation's debate about the direction
of our Armed Forces into perspective.
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Alone among the great nations of the world, Americans define
their identity outside the boundaries of geography or common ethnic
ancestry. For us there is no fatherland…We are instead a
people who have come from every corner of the globe, most of us
in the last century, and all of us in pursuit of a most noble
and remarkable vision - that in this land men and women could
live in freedom and liberty with their God-given rights respected.
It is, therefore, a common creed, not common ancestral roots,
which binds us together. That creed was best expressed in the
Declaration of Independence which announced, "We hold these
truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that
they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
Americans are forever indebted to those who pledged their lives
and fortunes and sacred honor to make this experiment in ordered
liberty possible…As Americans we have reason to be filled
with gratitude at all times; gratitude to God who gave us the
opportunity to come to this land and to live in freedom, gratitude
to our Founding Fathers who set forth those principles that constitute
our creed, and gratitude to following generations who have defended
us…
The history of the past 225 years shows what a difference loyalty
to principled beliefs can make. America has never sought wars
of expansion. It has sought to liberate and restore those it has
defeated. It has shared its bounty and wealth with the poor. It
has rescued the suffering. It has done this not because the fatherland
orders it, but because our devotion to human dignity and human
liberty demands it. America is different - it is a vision, a noble
idea - and for that extraordinary difference, Americans should
give thanks to God each day and pledge anew to do their duty out
of gratitude to Him and to our Founding Fathers.
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| At this time of the year when we give thanks for all who have bravely
gone before us to secure the liberty we now enjoy, let us also honor
the undaunted courage of our countrymen and women in uniform, wherever
they serve, by praying for them as they sacrifice to protect liberty
around the globe. This year we share with you "A Prayer for Our
Armed Forces," which we will include this Thanksgiving in celebration
of our rich American heritage.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
2003
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