November: A Time to Give Thanks, and to Honor our Vets and Civic Institutions

November is an important month in America's so-called “civil religion”--the distinctly American set of shared beliefs and values that are centered in our history and civic life, and that help unify us as a nation. Thanksgiving, of course, is a major holiday in this American pattern, a time to enjoy family, football, and food as we commemorate the Pilgrims' establishment in the New World. Veterans Day is another--a holiday in which we honor those who have served in our military, past and present. And, of course, America's civic life hinges on another important November date: Election Day, a day especially associated with presidents, who have traditionally served to unify our nation.

This November, explore our shared civic heritage with the following titles from Perma-Bound: