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Four Freedoms Park Conservancy is a non-profit organization that programs Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park on Roosevelt Island.

Four Freedoms Park Conservancy, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in June 2011. Today, the Conservancy programs Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park on Roosevelt Island, on behalf of the people of New York, and in partnership with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

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Nov 25

George Washington was the first to declare Thanksg

George Washington was the first to declare Thanksgiving a holiday, but it was on a year-to-year basis, so presidents had to re-declare it every year. President Roosevelt proclaimed Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, November 30, 1933, a rare fifth Thursday occurring during the month.

Depression-ravaged businesses foresaw fewer profitable holiday shopping days as many Americans waited to start their Christmas purchases until after Thanksgiving.

FDR chose to continue with the last Thursday of the month until 1939 when he moved Thanksgiving to November 23rd, the fourth Thursday. Not everyone was pleased and the holiday was humorously dubbed “Franksgiving.”

Most states held Thanksgiving on its original date, and three states — Colorado, Mississippi, and Texas — celebrated the holiday in both weeks.

After two years, Congress ditched the new policy and set the fourth Thursday of November as the legal holiday.

#thanksgiving #franksgiving #fdr #blackfriday #blackfridayhistory

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Nov 24

Thanksgiving Day, 1933. By the President of the Un

Thanksgiving Day, 1933. By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

"I, Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States of America, do set aside and appoint Thursday, the thirtieth day of November 1933, to be a Day of Thanksgiving for all our people.

May we on that day in our churches and in our homes give humble thanks for the blessings bestowed upon us during the year past by Almighty God.

May we recall the courage of those who settled a wilderness, the vision of those who founded the Nation, the steadfastness of those who in every succeeding generation have fought to keep pure the ideal of equality of opportunity and hold clear the goal of mutual help in time of prosperity as in time of adversity.

May we be grateful for the passing of dark days; for the new spirit of dependence one on another; for the closer unity of all parts of our wide land; for the greater friendship between employers and those who toil; for a clearer knowledge by all nations that we seek no conquests and ask only honorable engagements by all people to respect the lands and rights of their neighbors; for the brighter day to which we can win through by seeking the help of God in amore unselfish striving for the bettering of mankind."

#Thanksgiving #thanksgiving #thanks #thanksgivingday #gratitude #FDR #fdr

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Nov 23

Park visitor @berlinersoulfood shared this strikin

Park visitor @berlinersoulfood shared this striking photo of their shadow perfectly framed by the angles of white granite on their "morning sanity walk".

@4freedomspark is the perfect place to reflect, relax, and recenter while remembering the Four Freedoms: Freedom of Speech and Expression, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear.

#NYC #sanitywalk #guestpost #fourfreedoms #serenity

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Nov 22

#otd in 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assass

#otd in 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas.

Pictured we see JFK and Jacqueline Kennedy smiling in their motorcade.

#jfk #johnfkennedy

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Nov 18

The United Nations, with its lighted windows refle

The United Nations, with its lighted windows reflected in the waters of the East River, as seen through leafless tree branches against a periwinkle blue sky.

#unitednations #rooseveltisland #treescape

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Nov 17

Today is International Students' Day. We remembe

Today is International Students' Day.

We remember the bravery of thousands of students in Prague who, in 1939, fought for national pride and the right to higher education. The right to education and peaceful protest remains a struggle in many countries.

@4freedomspark welcomes students from around the globe!

Pictured are eight student park visitors, all performance majors from Marymount Manhattan College, standing in a line in arabesque, with the East River behind them.

#student #students #internationslstudentsday #righttoeducation

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Nov 15

On this day in 1939, President Franklin Roosevelt

On this day in 1939, President Franklin Roosevelt laid the cornerstone of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC.

#otd #presidentialmemorial #thomasjefferson #fdr

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Nov 14

As we look ahead to the week with President Roosev

As we look ahead to the week with President Roosevelt, @4freedomspark is open every day except for Tuesday from 9:00AM to 5:00pm with visitors exiting around 4:45 PM, at sunset.

Pictured: bust of FDR located in the park's forecourt.

#visitnyc #ushistory #president #rooseveltisland #jodavidson #sculpture #publicart

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Nov 13

Today is World Kindness Day. "Human kindness has

Today is World Kindness Day.

"Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel in order to be tough. The vigorous expression of our American community spirit is truly important. The ancient injunction to love thy neighbor as thyself is still the force that animates our faith—a faith that we are determined shall live and conquer in a world poisoned by hatred and ravaged by war.” - President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Photo of FDR giving the victory/ peace sign, holding up two fingers. (Keystone/Getty Images)

#worldkindnessday #peace #fdrquotes

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Nov 12

Unseasonably warm temperatures last only one more

Unseasonably warm temperatures last only one more day until an autumn chill arrives. A @mcgill_architecture student sits in The Room overlooking the United Nations.

Photo by @vedantanator who makes an annual pilgrimage to FDR Four Freedoms State park.

#louiiskahn #architecture #newyorkcity #publicspace #visitnyc

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Nov 11

Today, we observe Veteran's Day. "More than an e

Today, we observe Veteran's Day.

"More than an end to war, we want an end to the beginnings of all wars." - FDR

Pictured are four US Marines in decorated dress uniforms at the foot of the grand staircase at @4freedomspark.

#veteransday #veterans #fdr #armedforces #veteran #marines

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Nov 10

It's a beautiful day to visit the park! Give you

It's a beautiful day to visit the park!

Give yourself enough time to enjoy it: please remember that the park's seasonal hours are now 9:00AM to 5:00PM with visitors starting to leave at 4:45PM. The park is closed on Tuesday.

Photo: Three visitors sit on the wall and relax while looking at their phones and out onto the cityscape of Manhattan.

#nyc #nyctrip #nyctravel #newyorkcitylife #visitnyc #nycphoto #rooseveltisland

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