Thanksgiving Letter 2024

Thanksgiving is a very special time of year for many of us. Many of our fondest memories tend to be of dinners with loved ones, some no longer with us. The aromas and tastes of the feast coupled with laughter and story-telling shared around the dinner table cement those memories for us, making them memories to last a lifetime.

Growing up, you probably heard the story of the first Thanksgiving repeated over and over again in grade school. Some of us even had the opportunity to re-enact this story while wearing funny looking clothing: black britches with a flat topped hat and a black belt with a giant belt buckle, for example! But even though you’ve heard it before, the story is still worth repeating. That’s because it truly does remind us of how much we have to be grateful for.

The story began in November of 1620, when the Pilgrims journeyed to Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts on the Mayflower. The 65-day voyage over “fast and furious oceans”1 was dangerous and miserable. Many of the Pilgrims suffered from seasickness, and two people died. One passenger actually washed overboard, only managing to save himself by clinging to a rope trailing behind in the water!

A terrible situation developed about halfway through the voyage when one of the ship’s main beams cracked, making it very uncertain whether the ship could complete the voyage. Temporary repairs were made and the Mayflower sailed on, sometimes meeting with violent storms that forced them to drop sail and drift helplessly in the ocean. Although their destination was Virginia, they ended up landing in Massachusetts in November.

When they finally landed in this “New World,” their misery continued. The winter was fierce. Most people stayed aboard the ship, trying to survive on whatever rations were left. Within two or three months, at least half of the Pilgrims had died, sometimes two or three a day, usually by starvation, scurvy, or other illnesses. Those that lived were terribly sick, too. At one time, only six or seven were well enough to care for the others.

In March, members of the Wampanoag tribe finally made contact with the settlers. A man named Samoset, who spoke broken English, came first. He told them of Squanto, another native who had actually been to England and spoke English well. Squanto stayed with the Pilgrims at Plymouth for the rest of his life, acting as their teacher and guide. He taught them how to plant corn and where to fish. Without the assistance of these Native Americans, the Plymouth Colony most likely would have perished.

In the autumn of 1621, the Pilgrims and Indians celebrated their first successful harvest with a three-day feast. This was the very first Thanksgiving.

All of us are likely to face hardship at some point in our lives. Thankfully, we have the story of the Pilgrims to draw strength from. In the end, I think Thanksgiving is all about realizing that, whatever storms life throws our way, we can and will get through them … and find a bounteous feast waiting for us when we do!

So this Thanksgiving, think about the Pilgrims and what they had to endure to make this wonderful day possible. Take time to think of all of the wonderful blessings that you receive each and every day. Give thanks for all that you have.

As always, we are continually monitoring the markets and your investments. Pete and I, as well as our team, are here for you. Please never hesitate to reach out to us if there is anything we can do for you. Pete and I, as well as our team, are honored to serve you and we hope you and your family have a very Happy Thanksgiving!