Presidential Documents

29633

Federal Register

Vol. 61, No. 114

Wednesday, June 12, 1996

Title 3—

The President

Proclamation 6903 of June 7, 1996

Flag Day and National Flag Week, 1996

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

There is no better symbol of our country’s values and traditions than the

Flag of the United States of America. Chosen by the Continental Congress

in 1777, it continues to exemplify the profound commitment to freedom,

equality, and opportunity made by our founders more than two centuries

ago. Our flag’s proud stars and stripes have long inspired our people, and

its beautiful red, white, and blue design is known around the world as

a beacon of liberty and justice.

Today, America’s flag graces classrooms, statehouses, courtrooms, and

churches, serving as a daily reminder of this Nation’s past accomplishments

and ongoing dedication to safeguarding individual rights. The brave members

of our Armed Forces carry ‘‘Old Glory’’ with them as they fulfill their

mission to defend the blessings of democracy and peace across the globe;

our banner flies from public buildings as a sign of our national community;

and its folds drape the tombs of our distinguished dead. The flag is a

badge of honor to all—a sign of our citizens’ common purpose.

This week and throughout the year let us do all we can to teach younger

generations the significance of our flag. Its 13 red and white stripes represent

not only the original colonies, but also the courage and purity of our Nation,

while its 50 stars stand for the separate but united States of our Union.

Let us pledge allegiance to this flag to declare our patriotism and raise

its colors high to express our pride and respect for the American way

of life.

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

approved August 3, 1949 (63 Stat. 492), designated June 14 of each year

as ‘‘Flag Day’’ and requested the President to 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

the President, by joint resolution approved June 9, 1966 (80 Stat. 194),

to issue annually a proclamation designating the week in which June 14

falls as ‘‘National Flag Week’’ and calling upon all citizens of the United

States to display the flag during that week.

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

of America, do hereby proclaim June 14, 1996, as Flag Day and the week

beginning June 9, 1996, 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

suitable 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 Congress (89 Stat. 211), as a time to honor our

Nation, 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.
29634 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 114 / Wednesday, June 12, 1996 / Presidential Documents

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

of June, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-six, and

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

[FR Doc. 96–15028

Filed 6–11–96; 8:45 am]

Billing code 3195–01–P

and twentieth.

œ–