STATE OF NEBRASKA
Proclamation
WHEREAS, The Preamble to the Nebraska Constitution states, “We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, do ordain and establish the following declaration of rights and frame of government, as the Constitution of the State of Nebraska;” and
WHEREAS, Nebraska’s state song, “Beautiful Nebraska,” includes the refrain, “All these wonders by the Master’s hand; Beautiful Nebraska land;” and
WHEREAS, The influence of Christianity in Nebraska is evident by her many churches, Christian ministries, missions, and schools, and by the fact that 75 percent of adults continue to identify as Christian according to the Pew Research Group; and
WHEREAS, The Christian faith was central to official American life during the periods of discovery, colonization, and growth, and our founding fathers sought God, His blessings, and His guidance as they established these United States of America as a free and independent nation; and
WHEREAS, George Washington, in the first federal Thanksgiving proclamation declared: “…it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly implore His protection and favor;” and
WHEREAS, Benjamin Franklin, at the Constitutional Convention stated, “It is impossible to build an empire without our Father’s aid. I believe the sacred writings which say that ‘Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it’”(quoting Psalm 127:1); and
WHEREAS, The first act of America’s first Congress in 1774 was to ask a minister to open with prayer and to lead Congress in the reading of four chapters of the Bible; and
WHEREAS, The Christian heritage of our people is reflected in countless practices of the institutions and officials of our government, such as prayer ad Scripture reading preceding every session of Congress, and in our National Motto: “In God We Trust;” and
WHEREAS, Thanksgiving week is an appropriate time to center attention on, and to teach children of our Christian Heritage, which is foundational to the institutions, values, and vision of our nation, and to thank Almighty God for His great and good Providence in the formation of our state and nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Pete Ricketts, Governor of the State of Nebraska, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM the week of November 24-30, 2019 as
CHRISTIAN HERITAGE WEEK
in Nebraska, and I do hereby urge all citizens to take due note of observance.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and cause the Great Seal of the State of Nebraska to be affixed this Fourth day of November, in the year of our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen.
Pete Ricketts
Governor
Robert B. Evnen
Secretary of State
