Thanksgiving is the uniquely American holiday when we gather together with family and friends to reflect on the tremendous blessings we have as Americans and show our gratitude for our loved ones, the bounty of our God-given resources and the fortune of living in the most free and prosperous nation the world has ever known. This holiday, which began right in our backyard in 1619, is credited to a group of English settlers who arrived on the banks of the James River just north of Jamestown and issued a charter stating their arrival shall be observed yearly as a “day of thanksgiving.” Today, we celebrate that tradition with our friends and family, reflecting on all the things for which we are grateful and it my hope that each of you have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving.

We must never forget the sacrifices that were made in the founding generation and the sacrifices that have continued to be made throughout the generations in order to preserve our way of life. These liberties we are so thankful for today have everything to do with our nation’s history and the great Americans who have paved that history. Our nation has faced many challenges throughout its history, and while we continue to face new challenges today, we must remember and honor the sacrifice and dedication of those who have come before us to preserve the freedoms and the blessings that uniquely have made us the freest and most prosperous nation in the world. As we work in Congress to address the challenges we face of returning to our founding principles in order to get our economy back on track and restore the path to prosperity, I am driven by the precedent set by those men and women who have established and preserved this great nation and its freedoms and mindful of the importance of leaving this country better off than we found it.

As we spend this holiday season with our loved ones, as always, please keep our military and their families in your thoughts and prayers, as they are truly our keepers of peace and liberty. I remain steadfast in my pledge to support them in a way befitting of the immense commitment they make to our great nation.

I remain committed to addressing the pressing issues we face now so we may preserve this great nation, and its liberties and opportunities, for our children and grandchildren.

Robert Hurt represents Lunenburg County in the U.S. House of Representatives. He can be reached at his Farmville office at (434) 395-0120.