Presidential Documents

40723

Federal Register

Vol. 62, No. 145

Tuesday, July 29, 1997

Title 3—

The President

Proclamation 7014 of July 25, 1997

National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, 1997

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

On July 27, 1953, a negotiated cease-fire brought an end to the Korean

War and to some of the most savage fighting in the history of America’s

Armed Forces. More than 54,000 Americans lost their lives, more than

103,000 were wounded, and thousands more were listed as missing in

action. To a nation still recovering from the terrors and hardships of World

War II, this conflict was a harsh reminder that freedom still had enemies

at large in the world.

But the Korean War taught us that free nations could work together in

partnership through the United Nations, standing firm against tyranny and

in defense of liberty. We were reminded once again of the skill, courage,

and indomitable spirit of our men and women in uniform. We learned

that the American people were tough enough and determined enough to

prevail in the long struggle of the Cold War.

Our victory in that struggle had its roots in the Korean War, and we owe

our veterans of that conflict a profound debt of gratitude. Many of them

were still scarred from the battles of World War II when they answered

the call to duty in Korea. They fought a different kind of war in an unfamiliar

land, facing a new and fiercely determined enemy. There they proved to

all the enemies of freedom, and to the world, that America’s commitment

to liberty, democracy, and human rights was not only one of words, but

also one of deeds.

Etched into the eastern wall of the Korean War Veterans Memorial in our

Nation’s Capital is the simple sentence, ‘‘Freedom Is Not Free.’’ On this

day we honor those who recognized the truth of that inscription and were

willing to pay freedom’s price with their own lives. We salute our men

and women in uniform who served so valiantly in the Korean War, and

we remember with sorrow and with pride all those who never came home.

The Congress, by Public Law 104–19 (36 U.S.C. 169m), has designated

July 27, 1997, as ‘‘National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day’’ and has

authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance

of this day.

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

of America, do hereby proclaim July 27, 1997, as National Korean War

Veterans Armistice Day. I call upon all Americans to observe this day

with appropriate ceremonies and activities that honor and give thanks to

our Nation’s distinguished Korean War veterans. I also ask Federal departments and agencies, interested groups, organizations, and individuals to

fly the American flag at half-staff on July 27, 1997, in memory of the

Americans who died as a result of their service in Korea.
40724 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 145 / Tuesday, July 29, 1997 / Presidential Documents

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

day of July, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-seven,

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

[FR Doc. 97–20150

Filed 7–28–97; 11:30 am]

Billing code 3195–01–P

and twenty-second.

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