Federal Register: November 4, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 212)
DOCID: fr04no09-129 FR Doc E9-26767
Presidential Documents
Veterans Affairs Department
NOTICE: Part II
DOCID: fr04no09-129
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
___________________________________________________________________
Title 3--
The President
[[Page 57237]]
Proclamation
Veterans Day, 2009 8450
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
We have a sacred trust with those who wear the uniform
of the United States of America. From the Minutemen who
stood watch over Lexington and Concord to the service
members who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, American
veterans deserve our deepest appreciation and respect.
Our Nation's servicemen and women are our best and
brightest, enlisting in times of peace and war, serving
with honor under the most difficult circumstances, and
making sacrifices that many of us cannot begin to
imagine. Today, we reflect upon the invaluable
contributions of our country's veterans and reaffirm
our commitment to provide them and their families with
the essential support they were promised and have earned.
Caring for our veterans is more than a way of thanking
them for their service. It is an obligation to our
fellow citizens who have risked their lives to defend our freedom.
This selflessness binds our fates with theirs, and
recognizing those who were willing to give their last
full measure of devotion for us is a debt of honor for every American.
We also pay tribute to all who have worn the uniform
and continue to serve their country as civilians. Many
veterans act as coaches, teachers, and mentors in their
communities, selflessly volunteering their time and
expertise. They visit schools to tell our Nation's
students of their experiences and help counsel our
troops returning from the theater of war. These men and
women possess an unwavering belief in the idea of
America: no matter where you come from, what you look
like, or who your parents are, this is a place where
anything is possible. Our veterans continue to stand up
for those timeless American ideals of liberty, self- determination, and equal opportunity.
On Veterans Day, we honor the heroes we have lost, and
we rededicate ourselves to the next generation of
veterans by supporting our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen,
Marines, and Coast Guardsmen as they return home from
duty. Our grateful Nation must keep our solemn promises
to these brave men and women and their families. They
have given their unwavering devotion to the American
people, and we must keep our covenant with them.
With respect for and in recognition of the
contributions our servicemen and women have made to the
cause of peace and freedom around the world, the
Congress has provided (5 U.S.C. 6103(a)) that November
11 of each year shall be set aside as a legal public holiday to honor our Nation's veterans.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim November
11, 2009, as Veterans Day. I encourage all Americans to
recognize the valor and sacrifice of our veterans
through appropriate public ceremonies and private
prayers. I call upon Federal, State, and local
officials to display the flag of the United States and
to participate in patriotic activities in their
communities. I call on all Americans, including civic
and fraternal organizations, places of worship,
[[Page 57238]]
schools, and communities to support this day with commemorative expressions and programs.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
thirtieth day of October, in the year of our Lord two
thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
(Presidential Sig.)
[FR Doc. E9-26767
Filed 11-3-09; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-W9-P