From the Desk 

of the 

Founder

November 28, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

www.UptownJazzDallas.com

Dear Jazzers,

I wanted to drop you a line to say Happy Thanksgiving from Uptown Jazz Dallas! Today, I also get to celebrate my birthday, it actually roles around on Thanksgiving every few years which makes it super special for me and my family. We are so thankful for the freedoms we have here in the United States and I think it’s important to know where this nation’s greatness truly comes from. 

I’m thankful that when this nation was Founded that there were people who were inspired to create a democratic Republic that enables us to have the personal freedoms to pursue whatever we have a vision for. No matter how our ancestors got here, it is a true blessing to be here now. I’m the beneficiary of what my ancestors endured. Everyone of you can say the same thing from your own perspective. I want you all to know that I appreciate your support of the vision of this international jazz festival organization. 

For those who know me, they know I love history and I trace God’s fingerprint through it all the time. So, I wanted to share a very important speech that was the Thanksgiving Proclamation from our nation’s first President. It should clear up in many minds about what was the original intent of this national holiday! This proclamation by President George Washington reminds us to remember Who is the Special One to be thankful to. I am thankful to the Lord my God. Happy Thanksgiving everybody! And, thank you all for the birthday wishes!

~ Keith Hill, Uptown Jazz Dallas, LLC

Thanksgiving Proclamation

Issued by President George Washington, at the request of Congress, on October 3, 1789

By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation. Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and—Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favor, able interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Go. Washington