WHO WERE THE PILGRIMS ?

WHO WERE THE PILGRIMS ?Cultivating, foraging, and hunting game.
COLUMBUSArriving in Virginia they came ill-prepared In search of
When Columbus sailed into the unknown It was not togold and a route to the South Seas What they found
prove that the earth was round. He wished to find awere hostile Indians, Insects, starvation, and disease.
sea route to Asia Where gold, jewels and spices"Virginia is Earth's only Paradise!" The laureate of
were to be found.England would proclaim!" However by August of 1607,
Columbus was born in 1451 And was the son of aEvery day there was anguish, and pain.
weaver of wool. With is heart set on dreams andThey ate their horses, dogs, cats and rats One man
adventures, He listened to yarns, till his ears were full.ate his wife and hid her bones in the ground. Despite
At 14 he sailed the Italian cost, And studied maptheir hardships, half managed to survive Becoming
making and geography. Later he married a captain'sAmerica's first permanent, English town .
daughter, Who's dad had maps and charts of life atTHE FIRST THANKSGIVING
sea.The Pilgrims held their first Thanksgiving At Plymouth in
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, Decided to grantOctober 1621. The bitter winter of 1620, was over With
him three crew filled ships. On August the 3rd of 1492a loss of many father, mother, daughter or son.
His tiny fleet sailed with prayers on their lips.Life for survivors was much better now As a good
The months passed by and no land was sighted.harvest improved what was rationed Settlers enjoyed
Though his ships had traveled three thousand miles. Atgood health and prosperity As homes were raised
two am on October the 12th A sailor shouted "land"from the logs they fashioned.
with tears and smiles.They walked unafraid and safely in the woods For
The entire voyage took 224 days Till he was safe,they had made peace with the Indians. After the
back in Spain once again. After three more trips intosigning a long-lasting treaty Natives and Pilgrims shared
the New World. He died not knowing where he hadthe land as friends.
been.Sending four men to shoot waterfowl and wild turkeys
AMERICA 1606The Pilgrims decreed a holiday of good fortune A
America's East Coast in 1606 Was mostly unbrokenchief was invited who brought 90 braves And five
wilderness that thrived. Except for a small fort calleddeer to increase the portion.
St. Augustine, Where a handful of Spaniards,It was an open-air roast and festival Held along the
somehow survived.north bank of Town Brook. Where there were games
From Florida to the frozen Arctic wastes, Riversof skill, chance and dance While everyone gorged on
flowed down through the forests to the sea. Foreignthe feast they cooked.
settlements were nonexistent, For the Indians to tradeFrom then on Thanksgiving spread through the
with, attack, or flee.colonies Though each region chose its own date. Till in
Not one European footprint marked the earth, Or voice1789 President Washington proclaimed November 26
echoed down across the forest floor. Only the murmura day to give thanks and celebrate.
of the wind through the trees And the sweet sent ofThe theme of Thanksgiving has always been the
nature and nothing more.same. Though its date has changed many times. A
Sooner than later, one way or another, Eager pilgrimsday for giving and remembering the less fortunate
swarmed forth from the open seas To practice theirExpressing thankfulness with our prayers, hearts and
faith and to harvest new land, As Indians wereminds.
conquered and brought to their knees.It is our duty as a nation to acknowledge providence
JAMESTOWN 1607Of Almighty God, and to obey his will. To be grateful
Four hundred years ago high-born Brits sailed tofor his blessings, and protection As we humbly partake
America Seeking fast fortunes, adventure and fame.in the tables we fill.
Many would never endure their first year here