{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/blog/the-first-national-thanksgiving", "The FIrst National Thanksgiving", "2013-11-28", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Thursday, November 28, 2013\n\t\t\t\t The FIrst National Thanksgiving \n\t\t\t\t\n                        by Bob Casey \n                        \n                 \n\t\n\t            \n\t                \n\t                    \n\t                        \n\t                    \n\t                \n\t            \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t  \t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe \u201cfirst national\u201d Thanksgiving was declared in York, Pennsylvania in 1777. During the American War for Independence, Philadelphia was captured by the British\u2013 forcing the Continental Congress to move to York. The new location is where Congress learned of the victory at the Battle of Saratoga\u2013 a decisive turning point in the war. This prompted the first declaration of \u201ca day of Thanksgiving\u201d to be held on Thursday, December 18, 1777. [1]\r\nWith Thanksgiving approaching, I am particularly grateful for the service and sacrifice of our servicemembers and their families. \u00a0Many military families will prepare for their holiday meals with the support of their local commissaries and post exchanges (PX). Commissaries and Post Exchanges are a component of the essential Moral Welfare and Recreational (MWR) services that enhance the lives of soldiers and their family members. I support the construction of the relocated Commissary and PX in Moon Township, PA which will be a part of the Pittsburgh Area Military Community that will aid our servicemembers and their families both on duty and at home.\r\n\r\nAs I reflect on what I am thankful for this holiday, I will remember the great sacrifices that have been made by our men and women in uniform who bravely choose to protect and defend their country. As many servicemembers spend their holiday away from their families, they can be comforted by knowing they are in our thoughts and hearts.\r\n[1] http://www.examiner.com/article/where-was-the-first-national-thanksgiving\n\t\t\t\t\n                    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n                    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTags:\n                            \n                                \n                                Commissaries,\u00a0\n                            \n                                \n                                Military Families,\u00a0\n                            \n                                \n                                Millitary Families Appreciation Month,\u00a0\n                            \n                                \n                                Post Exchanges,\u00a0\n                            \n                                \n                                Thanksgiving,\u00a0\n                            \n                                \n                                Veterans", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/blog/the-first-national-thanksgiving"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0493788868188858, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}