Presidential Documents

39773

Federal Register

Vol. 65, No. 124

Tuesday, June 27, 2000

Title 3—

The President

Proclamation 7324 of June 23, 2000

50th Anniversary of the Korean War and National Korean

War Veterans Armistice Day, 2000

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Fifty years ago, on June 25, 1950, armed forces from North Korea shattered

the peace in the Land of the Morning Calm as they crossed the 38th Parallel

and launched an invasion of South Korea. The communist forces advanced

rapidly and, at the outset, appeared close to easy victory. President Truman,

recognizing the threat to our South Korean allies and their democracy,

responded swiftly and decisively. Through the United Nations Security Council, he marshaled international opposition to the invasion and, on June

27, 1950, committed the first U.S. forces to combat in South Korea.

On some of the world’s harshest terrain, through the scorching heat of

summer and the numbing cold of winter, American troops fought with

steely determination and uncommon courage. As they gained ground, pushing

the North Koreans back toward the 38th parallel, American families began

to hope that our troops would be home by Christmas. But in November,

at the Yalu River in North Korean territory, American forces encountered

a new and daunting antagonist: Chinese forces had joined their North Korean

allies, and the tide of battle turned once again.

Through months of attack and counterattack, falling back and regaining

ground, U.S. troops and our allies refused to succumb to enemy forces.

The war dragged into a bloody stalemate and long, bitter talks ensued.

Finally, negotiators signed an armistice agreement at Panmunjom on July

27, 1953. North Korea withdrew across the 38th parallel, and the Republic

of South Korea regained its status as a free, democratic nation. For the

first time in history, a world organization of nations had taken up arms

to oppose aggression and, thanks largely to the valor, skill, and perseverance

of almost 2,000,000 Americans, had succeeded.

In later years, the Korean War would sometimes be called ‘‘the Forgotten

War.’’ But we have not forgotten. We pay honor to the courage of our

veterans who fought in Korea and to the thousands who died there or

whose fate is still unknown. We recall the grief of their families and the

gratitude of the people of South Korea. We remember that, in the Korean

War, our soldiers’ brave stand against communism laid the foundations

of peace and freedom that so many nations enjoy today.

Over the next 3-1/2 years, Americans will gather to observe the 50th anniversary of the Korean War and honor our veterans. The Secretary of Defense

will help coordinate many of these events and will develop commemorative

and educational materials to help inform the American public about our

veterans’ many contributions and sacrifices.

The Congress, by Public Law 106–195, has authorized and requested the

President to issue a proclamation in observance of the 50th anniversary

of the Korean War, and by Public Law 104–19 (36 U.S.C. 127), the Congress

has designated July 27, 2000, as ‘‘National Korean War Veterans Armistice

Day’’ and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation

in observance of that day.

39774 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 124 / Tuesday, June 27, 2000 / Presidential Documents

NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the United States

of America, do hereby urge all Americans to observe the 50th Anniversary

of the Korean War and do hereby proclaim July 27, 2000, as National

Korean War Veterans Armistice Day. I call upon all Americans to observe

these periods with appropriate ceremonies and activities that honor and

give thanks to our distinguished Korean War veterans. I also ask Federal

departments and agencies and interested groups, organizations, and individuals to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff on July 27, 2000,

in memory of the Americans who died as a result of their service in Korea.

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

day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand, and of the Independence

[FR Doc. 00–16433

Filed 6–26–00; 12:47 pm]

Billing code 3195–01–P

of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-fourth.

œ–