their gratitude to God.

A special Thanksgiving Service will be held for all US citizens at St.

Theresa's Cathedral, on Cedar Avenue in Hamilton, on Thursday to mark the American holiday.

And the Governor, Thorold Masefield, the Premier, Pamela Gordon and the US Consul General Robert Farmer will take part in the service -- reading selected texts.

The 11 a.m. service will also feature the student winner of the Tom Pettit essay contest. The victor will read their winning entry for the congregation.

And a number of uplifting and moving musical selections will be performed by several talented singers.

Guests for the service -- which is open to all -- should be seated by 10.45 a.m.

Thanksgiving is the national holiday for giving thanks to God and is held every fourth Thursday in November in the US.

The first festival was held by pilgrims, in Plymouth Colony in 1621, in thankfulness for a successful harvest after a year of hardship.