Politics & Government
5 Things To Know Today: Nov 24 (Thanksgiving Day)
History of the holiday; local closures; the story from Plimoth Plantation; things to keep the kids busy; and today in history: New wings.
What It's About: Today is Thanksgiving Day in the United States, the 148th year that it's been celebrated as a national holiday. President Abraham Lincoln started the official holiday in 1863, though the tradition of the Thanksgiving feast s traced to 1621 in Plymouth, MA.
What's Closed: Johnston and (except for police and fire services) are closed today. Trash and recycling pickup will be delayed one day, with Thursday's collection moved to Friday, and Friday's pickup set for Saturday.
Historical Perspective: Want to learn more about the holiday from where it started? Check out the Plimoth Plantation Thanksgiving web page, which explains the development of the modern holiday and offers lots of links and activities for readers of all ages.
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For The Kids: The National Geographic Kids web page has more information, online games, and craft ideas to keep the kids' hands busy while the turkey's roasting.
Presidential Plane: On this date in 1954, the first official "Air Force One" airplane was christened.
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