Description:
On November 11, 1620, a group of Puritans, known as the Pilgrims, made history. Their ship, Mayflower, finally arrived in the New World, and they disembarked near modern-day Cape Cod, Massachusetts. This event became a defining moment in American history, and its 400th anniversary was celebrated in 2020. The United States Postal Service issued a new Forever stamp to mark the occasion.
The Pilgrims left England due to disagreements with the Church of England. They sailed away to Holland and stayed there for a time. Eventually, they were also persecuted for their faith in this new country. The Pilgrims believed they had no choice but to go to the New World and start fresh. After several delays, they finally began their journey across the Atlantic on September 6, 1620. This was a particularly dangerous time to sail and was known to be the season for strong western gales in the North Atlantic.
The Pilgrims sailed Mayflower through several horrific storms on their journey, including one that almost destroyed the ship’s main beam. Luckily, they managed to stabilize the ship, and Mayflower continued sailing. The Pilgrims’ determination and dream of living a life of religious freedom allowed them to overcome dire odds and finally reach America.