Presidential Documents

Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 108 / Monday, June 7, 2010 / Presidential Documents 32085 

Proclamation 8532 of May 28, 2010 

Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day, 2010 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

Since our Nation’s founding, America’s sons and daughters have given their 

lives in service to our country. From Concord and Gettysburg to Marne 

and Normandy, from Inchon and Khe Sanh to Baghdad and Kandahar, 

they departed our world as heroes and gave their lives for a cause greater 

than themselves. 

On Memorial Day, we pay tribute to those who have paid the ultimate 

price to defend the United States and the principles upon which America 

was founded. In honor of our country’s fallen, I encourage all Americans 

to unite at 3:00 p.m. local time to observe a National Moment of Remembrance. 

Today, Americans from all backgrounds and corners of our country serve 

with valor, courage, and distinction in the United States Armed Forces. 

They stand shoulder to shoulder with the giants of our Nation’s history, 

writing their own chapter in the American story. Many of today’s warriors 

know what it means to lose a friend too soon, and all our service members 

and their families understand the true meaning of sacrifice. 

This Memorial Day, we express our deepest appreciation to the men and 

women in uniform who gave their last full measure of devotion so we 

might live in freedom. We cherish their memory and pray for the peace 

for which they laid down their lives. We mourn with the families and 

friends of those we have lost, and hope they find comfort in knowing 

their loved ones died with honor. We ask for God’s grace to protect those 

fighting in distant lands, and we renew our promise to support our troops, 

their families, and our veterans. Their unwavering devotion inspires us 

all—they are the best of America. 

It is our sacred duty to preserve the legacy of these brave Americans, 

and it remains our charge to work for peace, freedom, and security. Let 

us always strive to uphold the founding principles they died defending; 

let their legacy continue to inspire our Nation; and let this solemn lesson 

of service and sacrifice be taught to future generations of Americans. 

In honor of their dedication and service to America, the Congress, by a 

Joint Resolution, approved May 11, 1950, as amended (36 U.S.C. 116), 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 3:00 p.m. local time on that day as a time 

for all Americans to observe, in their own way, the National Moment of 

Remembrance. 

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

of America, do hereby proclaim Memorial Day, May 31, 2010, as a day 

of prayer for permanent peace, and I designate the hour beginning in each 

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. 

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32086 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 108 / Monday, June 7, 2010 / Presidential Documents 

I 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-eighth 

day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth. 

[FR Doc. 2010–13677 

Filed 6–4–10; 8:45 am] 

Billing code 3195–W0–P 


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