Presidential Documents

32983 

Federal Register 

Vol. 73, No. 113 

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 

Title 3— 

The President 

Proclamation 8269 of June 6, 2008 

Flag Day and National Flag Week, 2008 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

The American flag has been our national symbol for 231 years, and it 

remains a beacon of freedom wherever it is flown. Since the Second Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as our flag in 1777, it has 

stood for freedom, justice, and the resolve of our Nation. 

When Francis Scott Key saw the American flag flying over Fort McHenry 

in 1814, he believed that liberty would triumph. The flag that inspired 

Key to write our National Anthem still energizes and emboldens the American spirit today. As our Nation faces the challenges of a new era, Old 

Glory reminds us that liberty can prevail over oppression. 

Since the first days of our Republic, Americans have flown the flag to 

show their pride and appreciation for the freedoms they enjoy in this great 

Nation. Every day, Americans pledge their allegiance to the flag of the 

United States, and our troops carry it before them as they defend the liberties 

for which it stands. 

On Flag Day and during National Flag Week, we remember those in uniform 

whose courage and sacrifice inspire us here at home. We also remember 

the rich history of one of our oldest national symbols and reflect on our 

duty to carry our heritage of freedom into the future. 

To commemorate the adoption of our flag, the Congress, by joint resolution 

approved August 3, 1949, as amended (63 Stat. 492), designated June 14 

of each year as ‘‘Flag Day’’ and requested that the President issue an annual 

proclamation calling for its observance and for the display of the flag of 

the United States on all Federal Government buildings. The Congress also 

requested, by joint resolution approved June 9, 1966, as amended (80 Stat. 

194), that the President issue annually a proclamation designating the week 

in which June 14 occurs as ‘‘National Flag Week’’ and calling upon all 

citizens of the United States to display the flag during that week. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States 

of America, do hereby proclaim June 14, 2008, as Flag Day and the week 

beginning June 8, 2008, as National Flag Week. I direct the appropriate 

officials to display the flag on all Federal Government buildings during 

that week, and I urge all Americans to observe Flag Day and National 

Flag Week by flying the Stars and Stripes from their homes and other 

appropriate places. I also call upon the people of the United States to 

observe with pride and all due ceremony those days from Flag Day through 

Independence Day, also set aside by the Congress (89 Stat. 211), as a time 

to honor America, to celebrate our heritage in public gatherings and activities, 

and to publicly recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United 

States of America. 


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32984 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 113 / Wednesday, June 11, 2008 / Presidential Documents 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of 

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

of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second. 

[FR Doc. 08–1346 

Filed 6–10–08; 8:45 am] 

Billing code 3195–01–P 


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