96-25341. Gold Star Mother's Day, 1996  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 191 (Tuesday, October 1, 1996)]
    [Presidential Documents]
    [Pages 51347-51348]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-25341]
    
    
    
    [[Page 51345]]
    
    
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    Part IV
    
    
    
    
    
    The President
    
    
    
    
    
    _______________________________________________________________________
    
    
    
    Proclamation 6923--Gold Star Mother's Day, 1996
    
    
                            Presidential Documents 
    
    
    
    Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 191 / Tuesday, October 1, 1996 / 
    Presidential Documents
    
    ___________________________________________________________________
    
    Title 3--
    The President
    
    [[Page 51347]]
    
                    Proclamation 6923 of September 27, 1996
    
                    
    Gold Star Mother's Day, 1996
    
                    By the President of the United States of America
    
                    A Proclamation
    
                    Of all the many bonds between one human and another, 
                    the love of a mother for her children touches the 
                    deepest chords of passion and selfless devotion. A 
                    mother willingly gives her affection, her work, and her 
                    spirit to prepare her children to go forth into the 
                    world and make their own way. Few of us can appreciate 
                    the strength of this tie more keenly than a mother 
                    whose son or daughter has died while serving our 
                    country.
    
                     Every Gold Star Mother has lived through this tragedy. 
                    She has experienced firsthand the shock of having a 
                    child taken away abruptly, at the brink of achieving 
                    his or her promise for fulfillment; she has suffered 
                    the terrible realization that years of love, nurturing, 
                    and teaching have been lost in a seemingly random 
                    event; and, ultimately, she has faced the need to 
                    rededicate her life in a way that will give continued 
                    meaning to the precious memory of her child's existence 
                    on earth.
    
                    Instead of withdrawing into the privacy of their 
                    anguish, these courageous women channel their grief 
                    into constructive service, memorializing their children 
                    by living lives dedicated to helping others. Gold Star 
                    Mothers do this not for personal gain, but in the hope 
                    of making our world a better place.
    
                    Whether comforting a disabled veteran in a VA hospital, 
                    counseling the family of a recently fallen member of 
                    our Armed Forces, or working for a community volunteer 
                    group, America's Gold Star Mothers make a real 
                    difference to those in need. They also serve our 
                    national community by fostering and promoting 
                    patriotism and respect for our Nation, our flag, and 
                    our men and women in uniform. Their unselfish 
                    leadership helps strengthen communities and sets an 
                    example for people across our country.
    
                    As we honor America's Gold Star Mothers and observe 
                    this special day, we also pray for them and for their 
                    families, that they may find peace and reconciliation 
                    in the knowledge that their work keeps alive the noble 
                    spirit of their sons and daughters. Having lost their 
                    most precious gift--their children--they deserve no 
                    less than our eternal gratitude.
    
                    In recognition of the outstanding courage of our Gold 
                    Star Mothers, the Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 
                    115 of June 23, 1936 (49 Stat. 1895), has designated 
                    the last Sunday in September as ``Gold Star Mother's 
                    Day'' and has authorized and requested the President to 
                    issue a proclamation in observance of this day.
    
                    NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the 
                    United States of America, do hereby proclaim Sunday, 
                    September 29, 1996, as Gold Star Mother's Day. I call 
                    upon all government officials to display the United 
                    States flag on government buildings on this solemn day. 
                    I additionally urge the American people to display the 
                    flag and to hold appropriate meetings in their homes, 
                    places of worship, or other suitable places, as public 
                    expression of the sympathy and the respect that our 
                    Nation holds for its Gold Star Mothers.
    
    [[Page 51348]]
    
                    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                    twenty-seventh day of September, in the year of our 
                    Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-six, and of the 
                    Independence of the United States of America the two 
                    hundred and twenty-first.
    
                        (Presidential Sig.)
    
    [FR Doc. 96-25341
    Filed 9-30-96; 10:39 am]
    Billing code 3195-01-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
10/01/1996
Department:
Executive Office of the President
Entry Type:
Presidential Document
Document Type:
Proclamation
Document Number:
96-25341
Pages:
51347-51348 (2 pages)
EOCitation:
of 1996-09-27
PDF File:
96-25341.pdf