Presidential Documents

28593 

Federal Register 

Vol. 74, No. 115 

Wednesday, June 17, 2009 

Title 3— 

The President 

Proclamation 8391 of June 11, 2009 

Flag Day and National Flag Week, 2009 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

In the midst of a war for our Nation’s independence, on June 14, 1777, 

the Second Continental Congress adopted a flag as a symbol of our fledgling 

Union. The Congress resolved that the flag be ‘‘thirteen stripes, alternate 

red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, 

representing a new constellation.’’ For generations to come, this pattern 

would serve as a compass bearing toward equality and justice for all. 

Our flag’s journey has been long. It has seen our Nation through war and 

peace, triumph and tragedy. It flew above the walls of Fort Sumter, South 

Carolina, at the outset of the Civil War. It stood on Mount Suribachi on 

the island of Iwo Jima during World War II. During the Civil Rights Movement, determined protesters on the streets of Selma, Alabama, proudly displayed its colors. Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, Old Glory 

flew over the southwestern wall of the Pentagon and the rubble of the 

World Trade Center. Today, the men and women of the United States 

Armed Forces bear our flag as they serve bravely around the world. 

The flag is still more than a historical symbol: it is part of our culture. 

In our schools children pledge allegiance to our flag and recite the ideals 

upon which our Nation was founded. Families sit on their front porches 

under a billowing Stars and Stripes. And each day as the flag is raised 

above military installations and government buildings, we are reminded 

of the great sacrifices that have been made in defense of our Nation. 

The Stars and Stripes tells our Nation’s story and embodies its highest 

ideals. Its display reminds us of America’s promise and guides us toward 

a brighter tomorrow. 

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 the President to issue an annual 

proclamation calling for a national observance and for the display of the 

flag of the United States on all Federal Government buildings. In a second 

joint resolution approved June 9, 1966, as amended (80 Stat. 194), the 

Congress requested the President to issue annually a proclamation designating 

the week during which June 14 falls as ‘‘National Flag Week’’ and called 

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

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

of America, do hereby proclaim June 14, 2009, as Flag Day and the week 

beginning June 14, 2009, as National Flag Week. I direct the appropriate 

officials to display the flag of the United States on all Federal Government 

buildings during the week, and I urge all Americans to observe Flag Day 

and National Flag Week by flying the Stars and Stripes at 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, set aside by the Congress (89 Stat. 211) as 

a time to honor America, celebrate our heritage in public gatherings and 

activities, and recite publicly the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the 

United States of America. 


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28594 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 115 / Wednesday, June 17, 2009 / Presidential Documents 

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

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

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

[FR Doc. E9–14340 

Filed 6–16–09; 8:45 am] 

Billing code 3195–W9–P 


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