96-15028. Flag Day and National Flag Week, 1996  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 12, 1996)]
    [Presidential Documents]
    [Pages 29633-29634]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-15028]
    
    
    
    
    
                            Presidential Documents 
    
    
    
    Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 114 / Wednesday, June 12, 1996 / 
    Presidential Documents
    
    ___________________________________________________________________
    
    Title 3--
    The President
    
    [[Page 29633]]
    
                    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.
    
    [[Page 29634]]
    
                    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 and twentieth.
    
                        (Presidential Sig.)
    
    [FR Doc. 96-15028
    Filed 6-11-96; 8:45 am]
    Billing code 3195-01-P
    
    

Document Information

Published:
06/12/1996
Department:
Executive Office of the President
Entry Type:
Presidential Document
Document Type:
Proclamation
Document Number:
96-15028
Pages:
29633-29634 (2 pages)
EOCitation:
of 1996-06-07
PDF File:
96-15028.pdf