[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 77 (Tuesday, April 22, 1997)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 19663-19664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10604]
[[Page 19661]]
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Part II
The President
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Proclamation 6991--National Day of Prayer, 1997
Executive Order 13044--Amending Executive Order 12752, Implementation
of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, as
Amended, and the Food for Progress Act of 1985, as Amended
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 77 / Tuesday, April 22, 1997 /
Presidential Documents
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Title 3--
The President
[[Page 19663]]
Proclamation 6991 of April 18, 1997
National Day of Prayer, 1997
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
America was born out of intense conflict as our
forefathers fought the forces of oppression and
tyranny. From our earliest history, Americans have
always looked to God for strength and encouragement in
those moments when darkness seemed to encroach from
every side. Our people have always believed in the
power of prayer and have called upon the name of the
Lord through times of peace and war, hope and despair,
prosperity and decline.
In his first inaugural address, during the rush of
optimism that followed the Colonies' uplifting victory
in the American Revolution, George Washington observed
that ``it would be peculiarly improper to omit, in this
first official act my fervent supplications to that
Almighty Being who rules over the universe.'' Amid the
bleak turmoil of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln
conveyed similar sentiments by calling Americans to ``a
firm reliance on Him who has never yet forsaken this
favored land.'' Almost a century later, Harry Truman
emphasized the need for God's help in making decisions:
``when we are striving to strengthen the foundation of
peace and security we stand in special need of divine
support.''
Indeed, the familiar phrase ``In God we trust,'' which
has been our national motto for more than 40 years and
which first appeared on our coinage during the Civil
War, is a fitting testimony to the prayers offered up
by American women and men through the centuries. Today
within our Nation's Capitol Building, a stained glass
window depicts General Washington humbly kneeling and
repeating the words of the 16th Psalm, ``Preserve me, O
God, for in Thee do I put my trust.''
As we face the last years of the 20th century, let us
uphold the tradition of observing a day in which every
American, in his or her own way, may come before God
seeking increased peace, guidance, and wisdom for the
challenges ahead. Even as we continue to work toward
hopeful solutions, may our national resolve be matched
by a firm reliance on the Author of our lives--for
truly it is in God that we trust.
The Congress, by Public Law 100-307, has called our
citizens to reaffirm annually our dependence on
Almighty God by recognizing a ``National Day of
Prayer.''
NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 1,
1997, as a National Day of Prayer. As in previous
years, let us once again celebrate this day in the
tradition of our Founders by humbly asking for divine
help in maintaining the courage, determination, faith,
and vigilance so necessary to our continued advancement
as a people. On this National Day of Prayer, may all
Americans come together to reaffirm our reliance upon
our Creator, and, in the words of Franklin Roosevelt,
to ``pray to Him now for the vision to see our way
clearly.''
[[Page 19664]]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
eighteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
nineteen hundred and ninety-seven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two
hundred and twenty-first.
(Presidential Sig.)
[FR Doc. 97-10604
Filed 4-21-97; 11:16 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P
