The American calendar is bursting with patriotic tradition in November as we take pause to recognize how fortunate we are to live in the world’s greatest democracy. The day of voting, the day of remembrance, and the day of giving thanks, when considered collectively, are an expression of celebrating our fellowship and our freedom.

Harvest festivals are observed by many of the world’s cultures, and have been in existence for millennia. By congressional proclamation, the fourth Thursday in November we set aside as the American version of the revered tradition of offering a tribute for the bountiful returns of all that we receive from the earth: Thanksgiving.

We often think of this day as a dedicated time to spend with family and friends to enjoy parades and football. Given our agrarian heritage, the roots of this holiday can be traced to our nation’s deep commitment for giving thanks for the fruits of our labors.

Looking more deeply, however, as often is pictured in historical accounts of the first Thanksgiving at Plymouth Plantation in the early 1620s, the native peoples, and those who were newly arrived, came together to break bread in an attempt to forge a more harmonious coexistence.

An opportunity for healing and restoring a country divided, it was in 1863 on the battlefields of Gettysburg in the midst of the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln first proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday.

At the 11th hour of the 11th day in the 11th month of 1918, the peace agreement, or armistice, ending the First World War took effect. “Armistice Day” was declared a national holiday in many nations to commemorate those whose lives were sacrificed for the allied effort.

In the years following World War II, a campaign was pursued for this day of remembrance to be more inclusive in honoring all veterans. Since 1954, in America, we have celebrated Armistice Day as “Veterans Day.”

On the first Tuesday in November, we actively participate in bringing to life our forefathers’ vision of a republic form of democracy by exercising our right to vote. Citizens come together to decide who among us can best represent our collective concerns.

Thus, November is a month of celebrating our humanism and our patriotism; a time of acknowledging our inter-connectedness within the community-at-large; and of recognizing that our inter-dependence upon one another is key to being able to prosper as individuals, communities and as a society.

This month, Mainers voted for a new direction for the state, as we have witnessed an historic transition in the leadership of the executive and legislative branches of government.

The challenge ahead is for all the parties to entertain a collaborative approach to policy-making and avoid the potential gridlock of the same old polarized partisan politics that has all too often plagued the country.

At the same time, it is up to us, the people, to hold the newly elected representatives responsible, to seek common-sense solutions to the intricate dilemmas we now face socially and economically. The common thread that connects us all is that it is our shared public desire to effect meaningful change in order to improve the lives of all Maine citizens.

Election Day celebrates the call to duty of all citizens to take an active role to secure and maintain freedoms. Our right and privilege to vote is the constitutionally assured means by which we protect our liberty and ensure we keep tyranny, at home and abroad, at bay.

Veterans Day celebrates the courage to defend and fiercely protect our freedom against the forces of oppression. In times of peace and in times of war, the men and women of the U.S. uniformed services have sacrificed their lives so that we may be free to live ours.

Thanksgiving celebrates the hope for plentiful blessings and the promise of new beginnings here in the land of opportunity. In an attempt to escape the shackles of domination, from the pilgrims to each subsequent wave of settlers, through the past several centuries, new immigrants have risked everything and sought out a new world, to ensure a brighter future for themselves and their families.

So, this Thanksgiving Day, whether you are marveling at the Macy’s parade through the eyes of your children, unabashedly cheering for your favorite football team, or agonizing over whether to serve smooth or chunky cranberry sauce, think of this day as the culmination of our collective November pledge to one another to hold up our end of the bargain; to be resolute that our elected officials serve with accountability and transparency; and that, ultimately, we all share in the responsibility for contributing to the long-term success of our state and the nation.

Dr. Joel Kase is an emergency physician and president of the Maine Osteopathic Association. He lives in Lewiston.