Governor William Bradford recorded the event and his writings clearly state the colonists' gratitude to God for His many blessings.

George Washington issued a thanksgiving proclamation in 1789, which began, “Whereas 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 to implore His protection and favor…"

Recognizing the awful toll the Civil War had taken on America, President Abraham Lincoln nevertheless remarked on the state of peace that existed between the United States and foreign powers and the general state of lawful observance that took place in the country as part of his Thanksgiving proclamation in 1863: "No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. 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."

Every subsequent president has issued a Thanksgiving Proclamation with God as the expressed, or implied, object of our gratitude.

While Thanksgiving has been considered a “religious” holiday in the sense we are asked to thank God for material blessings and personal freedom, that freedom includes the right not to thank Him (or anyone else) at all. For those who don't believe in God, perhaps they should thank the person who bought and cooked the turkey.