[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 236 (Thursday, December 9, 1999)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 69163-69164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32134]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 236 / Thursday, December 9, 1999 /
Presidential Documents
[[Page 69163]]
Proclamation 7259 of December 7, 1999
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, 1999
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Early on Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, the 130
vessels of the U.S. Pacific Fleet lay quiet and serene
in Pearl Harbor. American sailors were preparing to
raise colors, unaware that the worst naval disaster in
American history was about to unfold. As the first wave
of Japanese planes dropped torpedo bombs on the fleet,
all eight battleships along with three destroyers and
three light cruisers were hit. Two hours after the
first Japanese bomber hit its target, 21 ships of the
U.S. Pacific Fleet lay sunk or badly damaged. U.S.
aircraft losses included 188 planes destroyed and
another 159 damaged. Before the bombing was over, some
3,500 Americans had been killed or injured. The sinking
of the battleship USS ARIZONA remains the most
recognized symbol of that tragic day. Of the ARIZONA's
crew, 1,177 were killed, nearly half of all the deaths
suffered at Pearl Harbor.
Time has not dimmed our memory of the ferocity of that
attack 58 years ago or the pain of the losses we
suffered. The assault brought shock and grief not only
to the families and loved ones of those who were
injured or lost their lives, but also to our entire
country.
The attack on Pearl Harbor shook our Nation but
strengthened our resolve. Two days later, in a Fireside
Chat, President Roosevelt affirmed that resolve in
explaining America's sudden thrust into World War II:
``We don't like it--we didn't want to get in it--but we
are in it and we're going to fight it with everything
we've got. We are going to win the war and we are going
to win the peace that follows.'' Just as the American
forces at Pearl Harbor responded to the attack with
great courage, the United States responded with
determination that this assault would not keep us from
victory over the Axis powers. Union leaders agreed not
to strike for the duration of the war as President
Roosevelt garnered the support of our working men and
women to increase war production and build our
``Arsenal of Democracy.'' Millions of American patriots
joined the Armed Forces, willing to serve and sacrifice
in the cause of freedom.
Rising from the destruction at Pearl Harbor, all but
three of the ships sunk there were repaired and put
back into service. Less than 4 years later, the Pacific
Fleet sailed victoriously into Tokyo Bay. Today, the
Battleship Missouri Memorial is docked on Pearl
Harbor's Battleship Row, a fitting tribute to our
triumph in World War II. It was Pearl Harbor that
cemented the United States resolve to win the war, and
it was aboard the ``Mighty Mo'' that the Japanese
signed surrender documents in 1945, and peace in the
Pacific was finally realized.
Pearl Harbor is both a reminder of what can happen when
we are unprepared and a call for continuing vigilance
in defense of our Nation. The world has changed greatly
since that dark day more than half a century ago, but
our need to remain engaged is more crucial than ever.
We must never forget the lessons of Pearl Harbor or the
courage, determination, and indomitable spirit of that
generation of Americans who recovered from a
devastating defeat to win the ultimate victory for
freedom, democracy, and peace.
The Congress, by Public Law 103-308, has designated
December 7, 1999, as ``National Pearl Harbor
Remembrance Day.''
[[Page 69164]]
NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim December
7, 1999, as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. I
urge all Americans to observe this day with appropriate
programs, ceremonies, and activities in honor of the
Americans who served at Pearl Harbor. I also ask all
Federal departments and agencies, organizations, and
individuals to fly the flag of the United States at
half-staff on this day in honor of those Americans who
died as a result of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
seventh day of December, in the year of our Lord
nineteen hundred and ninety-nine, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two
hundred and twenty-fourth.
(Presidential Sig.)
[FR Doc. 99-32134
Filed 12-8-99; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P
