With Thanksgiving less than two weeks away, I thought I’d share a recent trip my family took to Plymouth, Massachusetts. We were in Boston for the weekend and decided to make a side trip to Plymouth on the way home. Since it was less than an hour’s drive from Boston, the draw was too strong not to take a slight detour to Plymouth Rock, Plymouth Colony and the landing spot of the Mayflower. Every American who celebrates Thanksgiving must visit the birthplace of this holiday and, to a certain extent, the establishment of our country.

First stop was the Rock. Plymouth Rock is the traditional site of disembarkation of William Bradford and the Pilgrims. They founded Plymouth Colony in December 1620. The first documented claim that Plymouth Rock was the landing place of the Pilgrims was made by Thomas Faunce in 1741, 121 years after the Pilgrims arrived in Plymouth. From that time to the present, Plymouth Rock has occupied a prominent spot in American tradition and has been interpreted by Americans as a symbol of the virtues and resilience of the first English people who colonized this new world. Today it is enshrined beneath a granite canopy facing Plymouth Bay. The rock is not as big as I expected, but its symbolism still looms large. As you look across the bay, it is easy to envision the Mayflower approaching on the horizon.

Despite the colony’s relatively short existence, Plymouth holds a special role in American history. The social and legal systems of the colony became closely tied to their religious beliefs, as well as to English custom. Many of the people and events surrounding Plymouth Colony have become part of American folklore. What would this country be without Thanksgiving and all the traditions that come with it?

Our visit was short but meaningful. It was definitely worth the extra few hours it added to our trip home. We left Plymouth thankful for the sacrifices the Pilgrims made to jump-start this great country of ours and thankful for the things that truly matter: family, love and life.

— Bill Lodzinski, director of sales