When it comes to Medicaid, Section 8 benefits, school and, school bussing etc, we’re there wildly pointing to ourselves screaming ” I’m an American’ “. However, when it comes to a purely American, secular holiday like Thanksgiving, we go through contortion z to prove it’s a religious holiday.
The Pilgrim story is a myth. The first official Thanksgiving celebrated by the United States under the Constitution, was declared by the first Congress,meeting in lower Manhattan. Roger Sherman of Connecticut wanted to declare a national day of Thanksgiving to thank G-d for providing a new government under the Constitution Southern Congressman objected, as they felt this was an act of Kings and they had just thrown off the rule of a king. Sherman responded that he wasn’t emulating European royalty but instead, King Solomon. Just as Solomon thanked G-d at the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem, they should thank G-d for the Constitution. The Southerners replied that they could emulate Solomon and voted for the resolution.
So, not only did Judaism play a deciding role, the Rabbi of the Spanish and Portuguese synagogue was an invited speaker. To commemorate this, since the 1780’s the shul has said special tfillos every Thanksgiving since.