Presidential Documents

11927 

Federal Register 

Vol. 76, No. 42 

Thursday, March 3, 2011 

Title 3— 

The President 

Proclamation 8628 of February 28, 2011 

American Red Cross Month, 2011 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

For over a century, the American Red Cross has harnessed the generosity 

of the American people, mobilizing us to offer assistance in the wake of 

disaster. Whether aiding towns fighting rising floodwaters or nations struggling with starvation and disease, the American Red Cross and its international partners have served during crises across the United States and 

around the world. During American Red Cross Month, we celebrate our 

Nation’s humanitarian spirit, and we recommit to providing relief and hope 

in times of crisis. 

The American Red Cross has a long history of partnering with Presidents 

of the United States to confront the world’s most pressing challenges. During 

World War I, President Woodrow Wilson called on our citizens to help 

the American Red Cross ‘‘respond effectively and universally to the needs 

of humanity under stress of war.’’ This relationship continued in 1943, 

when President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed March as Red Cross Month, 

urging the public to support the efforts of the American Red Cross to 

provide resources and medical care to troops, allies, and peoples around 

the world. 

Emergency response organizations like the American Red Cross play a vital 

role in relief operations by deploying scores of volunteers to rebuild communities hit by disaster and by providing critical support and resources at 

home and abroad. When a devastating earthquake struck Haiti last year, 

the American people responded with an outpouring of compassion, prompting an unprecedented international response and relief effort by the American 

Red Cross. These efforts reflect our country’s noblest ideals, and they contribute to a climate of international trust and cooperation. 

Volunteers play an essential part in every American Red Cross effort, from 

traveling to disaster zones around the world to donating blood at local 

community centers. Through their service, ordinary citizens have done extraordinary things, upholding the humanitarian mission of service and relief 

organizations and keeping our Nation strong and resilient. Though we can 

never fully know the challenges we will face, American Red Cross Month 

reminds us that Americans will always pull together in times of need and 

will always look to the future with hope and determination. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States 

of America and Honorary Chairman of the American Red Cross, by virtue 

of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 

United States, do hereby proclaim March 2011 as American Red Cross 

Month. I encourage all Americans to observe this month with appropriate 

programs, ceremonies, and activities, and by supporting the work of service 

and relief organizations. 

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11928 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 42 / Thursday, March 3, 2011 / Presidential Documents 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth 

day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of 

the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and 

thirty-fifth. 

[FR Doc. 2011–5028 

Filed 3–2–11; 11:15 am] 

Billing code 3195–W1–P 


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