Val Lauder : Many people do n't know roots of Thanksgiving , story of Pilgrims in 1620 . She says 102 people sailed from England to New World seeking religious freedom . It 's true , too , that lots of more recent history has had to be added to textbooks , for World War II and the Cold War , not to mention Vietnam , the space race , the civil rights movement and the too many assassinations and assassination attempts . They landed , drew up Mayflower Compact , built colony at barren , wintry Plymouth Harbor . The first Thanksgiving, she says, was a celebration for the pilgrims who had come so far and were now safe on American soil.
Val Lauder : Many people do n't know roots of Thanksgiving , story of Pilgrims in 1620 . She says 102 people sailed from England to New World seeking religious freedom . They landed , drew up Mayflower Compact , built colony at barren , wintry Plymouth Harbor . The first Thanksgiving, she says, was a celebration for the pilgrims who had come so far and were now safe on American soil.