History of Thanksgiving

Although Thanksgiving celebrations have dated back to 1621 to the first European settlements in America, it was not until 1863 that President Lincoln officially declared and proclaimed that the last Thursday in November would be an American National Holiday. Since the Thanksgiving Holiday is a day of family, feasting, football and floats here are a few “nibbles” to think about:

George Washington, leader of the revolutionary forces in the American Revolutionary War, proclaimed a Thanksgiving in December 1777 as a victory celebration honoring the defeat of the British at Saratoga.

In the middle of the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln, prompted by a series of editorials written by Sarah Josepha Hale, poetess of “Mary Had A Little Lamb”, asking for a permanent American day of thanks as a holiday, he proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day, to be celebrated on the final Thursday in November 1863: (excerpt from; Proclamation of President Abraham Lincoln, October 3, 1863.)

“… It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty- three, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-eighth."

The National Football League has played games on Thanksgiving every year since its creation; the tradition is referred to as the Thanksgiving Classic. The Detroit Lions have hosted a game every Thanksgiving Day since 1934, with the exception of 1939–1944 (due to World War II).

Since 1924, in New York City, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade featuring floats, large balloons is held annually every Thanksgiving Day from the Upper West Side of Manhattan to Macy's flagship store in Herald Square, and televised nationally by NBC.

All of us at Hygun Group want to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving with your families and to watch out for the TRYPTOPHAN while watching those floats and football games. We are THANKFUL for all of you as family, friends, and clients.

Veteran's Day with Hygun's Family, Friends and Contacts

All of us at Hygun Group want to wish all of our cherished Veterans a nod to your military service for our country on Veteran's Day. Have a Happy Veteran's Day from those who honor your service.  As we recognize some of our Family, Friends and Business Friends who have helped to make Hygun Group to be a successful Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, we are the ones to be humbled that all of you have touched our lives through your vast and experienced military service from all branches of the military. We want to say hello and recognize so many by name, though to all those millions of service personnel who have ever served on our behalf we extend our best wishes to you as our Nation's Veterans, Happy Veteran's Day. 

Veteran Family and Friends of Hygun Group:

Daniel Hydrick, CEO Hygun Group - Americal Division - Vietnam Veteran - U.S. Army; John Hardin, Federal Programs Hygun Group - U. S. Navy and Air Force Reserve; Jim O'Hara - Vietnam Veteran - U.S. Navy; Capt. Colin O'Hara - Explosive Ordinance Disposal - U.S. Army; C.L. Melenyzer IV - Vietnam Veteran - U.S. Air Force;Sgt. Bobby Salazar - U.S. Army; Capt. David Haywood - U.S. Army Ranger; Major General Andy Aadland - U.S. Army; Sgt. Wayne Miller - Army Sniper - U.S. Army; Sgt. Glen Kunkel - U.S. Marine Corps; Sgt. Donald Hydrick - 101st Airborne - U.S. Army; Julian Hydrick - Iraq War Veteran - U.S. Army; Graydon Clark - (future Veteran) heading out to boot camp in 20 days - U.S. Air Force; Specialist 5 Matt Adkins - Calvary - U.S. Army; John Williams - U.S. Air Force; Dick Clark - Vietnam Veteran - U.S. Army; Jerry Goodman - U.S. Navy; Dennis Goodman - U.S. Air Force; Col. John Rogers - U.S. Army Ranger; Andy Rogers - U.S. Army Ranger

Veterans from our Client Side of Hygun Group:

Gen. Ed Arnold - U.S. Army; Maj. Gen. Randy Castro - U.S. Army; Lt. Gen. Robert Flowers - U.S. Army; Col. Fritz Heneman - U.S. Army; Col. Joe Graff - U.S. Army; Col. Tony Leketa - U.S. Army; Col. Tom Peck - U.S. Army; Col. Lee Norton - U.S. Army; Maj. Gen. Gene Lupia - U.S. Air Force; Maj. Gen. Dean Fox - U.S. Air Force; Maj. Gen. Ernie Robbins - U.S. Air Force; Brig. Gen. Tim Bryers - U.S. Air Force; Col. Neal McElhannon - U.S. Air Force; Col. Pat Fink - U.S. Air Force; Col. Steve Bradshaw - U.S. Air Force; Col. Steve Moes - U.S. Air Force; Col. Tom Kuasney - U.S. Air Force; Lt. Gen. Roy Beauchamp - U.S. Army; Col. Erin Mercer - U.S. Air Force; Maj. Gen. Maria Britt - U.S. Army; Col. Marv Fisher - U.S. Air Force; Col. Clayton Perry - U.S. Air Force; Col. Brent Nixon - U.S. Air Force; Tony Williams - U.S. Army; Tim Tope - U.S. Air Force; Col. Delphine Rafferty - U.S. Air Force; Col. Tim Sanford - U.S. Army; Col. Bob Davis - U.S. Army; Maj. Gen. Pete Madsen - U.S. Army; Col. John Mogge - U.S. Air Force; Col. Rick Galloway - U.S. Air Force; Col. Kevin Rumsey - U.S. Air Force; Rob Fetter - U.S. Navy; Jim Pawlisch - U.S. Navy; Joe McGonagle - U.S. Marine Corps; Jay Huston - U.S. Navy; Roland Moreau - U.S. Navy

Click here to see a heartwarming video of 3rd graders singing "thank you" to all soldiers, past and present.

Recognize a Veteran for Veteran's Day 2011

So many U.S. Veterans to be remembered on this year's Veteran's Day within your local communities, within all states and even overseas it is time to show your appreciation and honor them for their military service. Carrying the title of "VETERAN" weighs heavy on our military personnel who ultimately carry the vast duty of defending our American freedoms.  Show your appreciation to them by attending a patriotic parade, hug a veteran, send a card to our deployed or retired military personnel, visit a Veteran's hospital in your local area -- no matter what you do to honor this very special group of American citizens, find a way to recognize our cherished Veterans this November 11, 2011 on Veteran's Day.  There are so many organizations that help, support and aide our generations of proud Veterans, the list below is just a handful of resources where you can volunteer, contribute time and monetary donations and even attend local events that support our military all year long, get involved.

Various Support Veteran Organizations: 

Wounded Warrior Project - www.woundedwarriorproject.org

Operation Home Front - www.operationhomefront.net

Adopt-A-Platoon -  www.adoptaplatoon.org

American Red Cross - www.redcross.org

Homeless Veterans - www.va.gov/homeless

Veterans of Foreign Wars - www.vfw.org

American Legion Posts - www.legion.org 

Military - www.military.com

USO (United Service Organizations)-  www.uso.org

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America -  www.iava.org 

To all of our Veteran's - Hygun Group wishes you peace and an abundance of gratitude for your years of military service. Happy Veteran's Day.

A Sweet Way to Make Everyone Smile

Every kid loves Halloween! So do adults. The Halloween Candy Buy Back Program (www.halloweencandybuyback.com) was started by dentists to get the sugar out of the kids and eliminate cavities. As responsible dentists, community members, and US citizens, Halloween Candy Buy Back Program dentists have found a way to keep the fun, while helping kids and our military troops who are deployed overseas.

How does the program work? Participating dentists "buy" back kids' Halloween candy at a scheduled event, "buy" with cash, coupons, toothbrushes, creative exchanges with local partners and businesses. One pound of candy gets the kid the opportunity to get cash or other prizes and the dentists send the "purchased" candy to Operation Gratitude (www.operationgratitude.com) or other Military support groups. Operation Gratitude sends the candy to U.S. Military who are deployed in harms' way.

You'll enjoy peace of mind knowing you're making kids, parents, and Service Personnel smile!  You'll set a great example for the next generation to give back in many ways!
www.hygun.com

A Sweet Way to Make Everyone Smile

Every kid loves Halloween! So do adults. The Halloween Candy Buy Back Program (www.halloweencandybuyback.com) was started by dentists to get the sugar out of the kids and eliminate cavities. As responsible dentists, community members, and US citizens, Halloween Candy Buy Back Program dentists have found a way to keep the fun, while helping kids and our military troops who are deployed overseas.

How does the program work? Participating dentists "buy" back kids' Halloween candy at a scheduled event, "buy" with cash, coupons, toothbrushes, creative exchanges with local partners and businesses. One pound of candy gets the kid the opportunity to get cash or other prizes and the dentists send the "purchased" candy to Operation Gratitude (www.operationgratitude.com) or other Military support groups. Operation Gratitude sends the candy to U.S. Military who are deployed in harms' way.

You'll enjoy peace of mind knowing you're making kids, parents, and Service Personnel smile!  You'll set a great example for the next generation to give back in many ways!
www.hygun.com