It began more than two decades ago with a field study Dayspring Christian Academy students undertook in Plymouth, Mass., to learn about one of the first successful European settlements in the New World. But it was the parents who experienced the trip who were most amazed by what they learned of the Pilgrim story. "Parents were saying that they had no idea what the Pilgrim story was all about," said Dan Stone, headmaster at Dayspring. "They said, 'There is so much more to it than buckles, hats, and turkeys.'"

The comments inspired Dayspring staff to ask how they could do a better job of telling the story, and in the late 1990s, a script featuring six scenes and drawing from Gov. Willliam Bradford's journals and other primary sources was created.

Thanksgiving Exposed became a Dayspring tradition, but the presentation was put on hold for two years by COVID-19 restrictions. Now, the walk-through that requires up to 80 volunteers - students, parents, and staff members - to tell the story of the Pilgrims will be held for one night only, Friday, Nov. 18, beginning at 5:30 p.m., at the school, 120 College Ave., Mountville. The hourlong event is free, but registration is necessary to attend. Readers who wish to witness Thanksgiving Exposed may visit http://www.dayspringchristian.com/thanksgiving-exposed/ to make reservations.

The presentation transforms Dayspring's auditorium and several classrooms into key scenes of what Dayspring calls "America's Sacred Story." Stone explained that the account begins in England, where the people we know as the Pilgrims began to read and study the Bible for themselves. "They began to really see the way the Church of England was doing things was not what they were finding in Scripture, and they began to meet privately, which was illegal in England at that time," noted Stone, who said the Pilgrims moved to Holland where they had freedom of religion. However, negative cultural influences on their children drove them back to England, where they petitioned King James to let them resettle in the New World. In 1620, after a grueling voyage, the group landed at Plymouth. Stone pointed out that difficulties encountered aboard the ship, known as the Mayflower, led to the formation of a "civil body politic, which was the Mayflower Compact." "It really laid the foundation for self-government," said Stone. "They were the first example in the New World to elect a leader, agree to live together under laws they made for themselves, and agreed to abide by them - a beautiful model for the American system that would come later on."

Thanksgiving Exposed also addresses the peace treaty the Pilgrims made with Native Americans that lasted more than 50 years. "That first Thanksgiving is a celebration between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans coming to live together," said Stone.

"We feel this is a really special story of our country's heritage ... and there are a number of intriguing parts of the story that are worth spotlighting," said Stone. "(The scenes) highlight our Christian heritage as a country and some of the things we teach here at Dayspring."