Many would agree that the United States of America is a much divided country right now, at least from the view of the political sphere. Many would also agree that if we were to just reach out, say hello, and help our neighbors, the country would look a lot different than what the news reports tell us. It would be a country of hope, strength, and thankfulness. It would be the United States of America we all believe it to be.
To be thankful has always been a pillar of America. And it is with this pillar that Plymouth, Massachusetts, the town in which the first Thanksgiving took almost 400 years ago, found a unique way to celebrate thankfulness for the past 21 years. America's Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration in Plymouth takes place on November 22nd-November 24th, and contains a parade, concerts, reenactments, and much more.
"Our event is education and fun and, at the same time, depicts everything that makes America the great country it is," says Executive Director Olly deMacedo, "Everyone has something to be thankful for. Whether it is that we just beat a disease or we found the girl we are going to marry, all of us have something. And, in this celebration, we give thanks for America." The event is put on by a committee that is completely volunteer-based.
America's Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration takes place in Plymouth, MA [Photo/America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration]
The Travel Channel names it one of the top 5 parades in the United States. The parade has floats that chronologically depict America from the early beginnings, when the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock, to the 21st Century. The website states, "This is one of America’s only historically accurate chronological parades, visually bringing to life America’s rich heritage representing each century from the 17th through the 21st. In showing the preservation of America’s history through the years, beginning with the Pilgrim era, we promote an appreciation among our citizens for our rich heritage." To kick the parade off, the Golden Knights Parachute Team will land on Plymouth Beach and then floats depicting everything from the Wright Brothers to honoring the Wampanoag Native Americans who helped the Pilgrims survive, along with marching bands and other entertainment, pass on by the parade route.
A recent review of the parade wrote, "First time attending and it won't be the last. AWESOME job by all that participated. Floats, bands, Military, Police, etc. We were amazed...It was a fabulous day. Happy Thanksgiving. We have a lot to be thankful for.”
For this year, there are two special floats to be included in the parade. The first celebrates the 75th anniversary of D-Day. On the website, Dr. Paul Jehle gives a touching tribute to these soldiers who were part of the "greatest generation." He closes the tribute with part of the speech that Eisenhower gave to the troops prior to the invasion of Normandy: "You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade… the eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you…. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than a full victory! …let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.”
They will also have a float for Apollo 11, which landed on the moon 50 years ago, and where we received one of the most famous quotes of all time by Neil Armstrong: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." According to the website, Armstrong carried a piece of wood from the Wright Brothers' original plane on the mission and the astronauts left pictures of human beings, audio recordings of different languages and medallions with names of the astronauts that died in Apollo 1. As the USA is the only country to walk on the moon, they include this in the celebration of America because "the amazing amount of scientific research and experimentation is only possible in a nation built on the freedom to invent and explore, allowing the United States to lead the world on such a global mission."
For Olly deMacedo, the opportunity to work on the Thanksgiving Celebration is a very personal one. "I emigrated to America when I was 7, so for me, I have a tremendous love for America and its history," deMacedo says. "So all of us who volunteered our time and energy to build these floats and put together this great celebration is to show how great America really is. The ingenuity, volunteerism and the thousands of people who have died for our great country - those are some of the things that make this country the best one the world has ever produced. And that is something to be thankful for.”