Light a Flame of Thanksgiving (1977)

This short documentary, made by the National Thanksgiving Commission, focuses on the creation of Thanksgiving and its long history within the United States. The narrator emphasizes a gratitude for life as the core of the national holiday and urges viewers to “light a flame for Thanksgiving.” He then describes the birth of Thanksgiving with images of early America. He notes the centuries-long tradition of Thanksgiving as a federal holiday, beginning during the Revolutionary War and continuing to this day. The film ends with a further reminder to embrace the spirit of Thanksgiving.