Presidential Documents

Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 219 / Thursday, November 13, 2014 / Presidential Documents 67311 

Proclamation 9209 of November 7, 2014 

World Freedom Day, 2014 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

For nearly three decades, the Berlin Wall divided a nation and stood as 

one symbol of a system that denied individuals the freedoms that are the 

right of every person. It separated families and suppressed free will and 

self-determination—but while it tried to contain the yearnings of a courageous 

and unwavering people for liberty and justice, it could not crush them. 

Twenty-five years ago today, Germans from East and West came together 

to tear down the Wall and begin the work of building an open and prosperous 

society. On World Freedom Day, we honor a generation that refused to 

be defined by a wall, and we reaffirm our commitment to stand with all 

those who seek to join the free world. 

The images of this extraordinary event are seared in our memory and enshrined in our history: brave crowds climbing atop an old barrier and 

Berliners reuniting in city streets. But the victory of 1989 was not inevitable. 

We will not forget those who risked bullets, dug through tunnels, leapt 

from buildings, and crossed barbed wire, minefields, and a mighty river 

in pursuit of freedom. In their struggle—and in the memory of all those 

who did not live to see Berlin united and free—Americans see our own 

past, as well as the spirit of citizens around the world who long for opportunity and are willing to do the hard work of building a democracy. 

America stood with those on both sides of the Iron Curtain who held 

fast to the belief that a better future was possible, and as the Berlin Wall 

fell, it spurred a more integrated, more prosperous, and more secure Europe. 

Today, Germany is one of our strongest allies. And as we pay tribute to 

our shared past, we are reminded that upholding peace and security is 

the responsibility of every nation. There is no progress without sacrifice 

and no freedom without solidarity, and we cannot shrink from our role 

of advancing the values in which we believe. 

The story of Berlin shows us that with grit and determination, we have 

the power to shape our own destiny, even in the face of impossible odds. 

As we celebrate a triumph over tyranny, we also recognize that the challenges 

to peace and human dignity continue in our complex world and that complacency is not the character of great nations. Let us resolve to extend a 

hand to those who reach for freedom still and continue the pursuit of 

peace in our time. 

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

of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution 

and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 9, 2014, 

as World Freedom Day. I call upon the people of the United States to 

observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities, reaffirming 

our dedication to freedom and democracy. 


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67312 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 219 / Thursday, November 13, 2014 / Presidential Documents 

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

of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand fourteen, and of the 

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

[FR Doc. 2014–26995 

Filed 11–12–14; 8:45 am] 

Billing code 3295–F5 


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