Veterans Day, 1994

Proclamation 6750 of October 27, 1994

Veterans Day, 1994

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Each year, we set aside November 11 to honor the men
and women who have served in our Nation's Armed Forces.
Their stories are not only of past glory and current
sacrifice; their lasting contributions are to our
future as well. Their deeds and dedication assure us
and the generations to come that America's great
promise of freedom and happiness will endure and
flourish.

Fifty years ago on this day, American forces of World
War II were pushing the enemy back across the European
continent, liberating hundreds of thousands along the
way. These heroic Americans fought to win the peace,
not just for themselves and for their Nation, but for
oppressed millions in many lands.

The world has changed tremendously since then. Today,
the international role of the United States has evolved
from peacemaker to peacekeeper. And still we call upon
our Armed Forces to serve our Nation and to defend the
cause of freedom everywhere. Our men and women in
uniform understand that the ideals of democracy and
self-determination are larger than any single nation.
The blood of Americans spilled on battlefields from
Normandy to Korea to Vietnam and the vigilant defense
of freedom throughout the Cold War have taught us a
lasting lesson: America can only rest secure when every
individual knows liberty and all nations live at peace.

It is an extraordinary person who is willing to step in
harm's way to protect others. Our Nation has always
been blessed with an abundance of such men and women.
We owe our veterans an inestimable debt of gratitude.
On this day, we recognize how much they have done, and
are doing, to make a better, safer tomorrow for all of
us.

In order that we may pay due tribute to those who have
served in our Armed Forces, the Congress has provided
(5 U.S.C. 6103 (a)) that November 11 of each year shall
be set aside as a legal public holiday to honor
America's veterans.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim Friday,
November 11, 1994, as ``Veterans Day.'' I urge all
Americans to honor the resolution and commitment of our
veterans through appropriate public ceremonies and
private prayers. I call upon Federal, State, and local
government officials to display the flag of the United
States and to encourage and participate in patriotic
activities in their communities. I invite civic and
fraternal organizations, places of worship, schools,
businesses, unions, and the media to support this
national observance with suitable commemorative
expressions and programs.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-seventh day of October, in the year of our Lord
nineteen hundred and ninety-four, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two
hundred and nineteenth.

(Presidential Sig.)>