The Power of Persistence: How One Woman United America Through Thanksgiving

As we approach Thanksgiving 2024, let's take a moment to appreciate someone whose determination forever changed how we celebrate this holiday - Sarah Josepha Buell Hale. Long before Thanksgiving became the cherished national holiday we know today, one woman wielded her pen with unwavering conviction to make it happen.

For 17 years, Sarah Hale wrote tirelessly to presidents and influencers, advocating for a unified Thanksgiving celebration across the United States. Where previous presidents had dismissed her vision, Abraham Lincoln saw an opportunity. In the midst of the Civil War, when the nation desperately needed unity, Lincoln recognized the wisdom in Hale's persistent campaign for a national day of Thanksgiving.

Her story is particularly poignant because it reminds us that meaningful change often requires extraordinary persistence. Hale didn't just have an idea - she dedicated nearly two decades of her life to seeing it through. She faced opposition from those who preferred their own regional traditions and timing, yet she persevered with grace and determination.

Her legacy resonates so deeply that every year before Thanksgiving, I would read my son a children's book about Sarah's remarkable journey. Through those bedtime story moments, her message of persistence and unity became part of our family's holiday tradition, just as it has become part of our national heritage.

Today, as we prepare for tomorrow's celebration, Sarah's legacy lives on. Each year, when Americans across the country sit down to their Thanksgiving meals at the same time, we're experiencing the fruit of her dedication. One woman's vision and persistence created a tradition that still brings Americans together, nearly 160 years later.

At Joe Ollis Real Estate & Auction, LLC, we're fortunate to be able to enjoy an extended weekend with our families. However, we recognize that not everyone has this privilege. As we enter this holiday weekend, we encourage everyone to take a moment to pause, breathe deeply, and remember Sarah's story. She chose the power of the pen over confrontation and created lasting change that continues to unite us.

Whether you're celebrating with family, friends, or taking a quiet moment for yourself, remember that persistence and unity - the very qualities Sarah Hale embodied - remain powerful forces for positive change in our world.

From all of us at Joe Ollis Real Estate & Auction, LLC, we wish you a peaceful and meaningful Thanksgiving.