In November of 1620 the Pilgrims arrived by ship to a new land filled with danger and uncertainty, a world in which nearly half of them would soon die of starvation and sickness, their final resting place being unmarked graves so as not to let the surrounding Indians know how many of their group had been lost. Yet with unshakable faith and strength of spirit, the survivors of that first winter set to work to fell trees and build a village, they found the strength to clear fields and plant crops when the springtime came, and they forged an alliance with the Wampanoag Indians for their mutual benefits. Then, despite that first year of incredible hardship and loss, they set aside a few days in the fall of 1621 to give thanks to their God for all the blessings they had received. This was the first Thanksgiving at Plymouth in what we now call Massachusetts. This is their story.. Join us as we take a look back at the first Thanksgiving in Plymouth back in 1621. If you have a minute, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/1001Heroes and answer our question "Despite this hard year-what are you most thankful for this Thanksgiving?

Sources: Stepman, Jarrett: The War On History; Philbrook, Nathan, Mayflower; The Plymouth Colony Museum

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