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[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 105 (Thursday, May 31, 2001)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 29445-29446]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-13788]



                        Presidential Documents 



Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 105 / Thursday, May 31, 2001 / 
Presidential Documents

___________________________________________________________________

Title 3--
The President

[[Page 29445]]

                Proclamation 7444 of May 25, 2001

                
Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day, 2001

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                ``Humility must always be the portion of any man who 
                receives acclaim earned in the blood of his followers 
                and the sacrifices of his friends.'' These words, 
                spoken by General Dwight D. Eisenhower following 
                Germany's surrender in 1945, paid tribute to his fallen 
                comrades as he humbly acknowledged that their ultimate 
                sacrifice gave occasion for recognition of his 
                leadership.

                Similarly, we stand as a Nation that is strong and 
                deserving of praise. Yet we are humbled, because we 
                remember that the wealth of this Nation's heritage, the 
                strength of its ideals, and the extent of its freedom 
                came with a tremendous price. These treasures were 
                purchased with the lives of American service men and 
                women, a cost borne prominently by several generations. 
                We are humbled because so many bright futures, hopes, 
                and dreams were sacrificed for the abundance of 
                opportunities we now freely pursue.

                Through the course of our Nation's history, more than 
                41 million Americans have served the cause of freedom 
                and more than a million have died in its name. On this 
                noble American holiday, we solemnly pause to remember 
                the men and women who gave their lives in service to 
                our Nation. We honor those generations and individuals 
                who fought for liberty and in defiance of tyranny that 
                this unique experiment in self-government might long 
                endure.

                At a bridge at Concord, in the muddy trenches of 
                Europe, the rugged mountains of Korea, the dense 
                forests of Asia, or across the burning sands of the 
                Persian Gulf, America's heroes have advanced democracy 
                around the globe and defended the liberties we hold 
                dear. We are particularly mindful of our fallen 
                patriots as we mark the 60th anniversary of the bombing 
                of Pearl Harbor and the 10th anniversary of Operation 
                Desert Storm.

                We honor the final sacrifice of our service men and 
                women by dedicating our own lives to peace and the 
                defense of freedom. For these ideals they fought, and 
                for these ideals we continue to strive. May we stand 
                with diligence and with humility on the broad shoulders 
                of those whose brave deeds and sacrifice we memorialize 
                today. Let all of us commit this day, whether in public 
                ceremony or in quiet reflection over a single grave, to 
                remember them in fitting tribute.

                In respect for their devotion to America, the Congress 
                by a joint resolution approved on May 11, 1950 (64 
                Stat. 158), has requested the President to issue a 
                proclamation calling on the people of the United States 
                to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for 
                permanent peace and designating a period on that day 
                when the people of the United States might unite in 
                prayer. The Congress, by Public Law 106-579, has also 
                designated the minute beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time 
                on that day as a time for all Americans to observe the 
                National Moment of Remembrance.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the 
                United States of America, do hereby designate Memorial 
                Day, May 28, 2001, as a day of prayer for permanent 
                peace, and I designate the hour beginning in each

[[Page 29446]]

                locality at 11:00 a.m. of that day as a time to unite 
                in prayer. I also ask all Americans to observe the 
                National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3:00 p.m. 
                local time on Memorial Day. I urge the press, radio, 
                television, and all other media to participate in these 
                observances.

                I also request the Governors of the United States and 
                the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the appropriate 
                officials of all units of government, to direct that 
                the flag be flown at half-staff until noon on this 
                Memorial Day on all buildings, grounds, and naval 
                vessels throughout the United States and in all areas 
                under its jurisdiction and control. I also request the 
                people of the United States to display the flag at 
                half-staff from their homes for the customary forenoon 
                period.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                twenty-fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand one, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and twenty-fifth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 01-13788
Filed 5-30-01; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P
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