National D.A.R.E. Day, 2008

Proclamation 8235 of April 9, 2008

National D.A.R.E. Day, 2008

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

For 25 years, Drug Abuse Resistance Education
(D.A.R.E.) has given school children across America an
opportunity to gain the skills they need to avoid
involvement in drugs, gangs, and violence. On National
D.A.R.E. Day, we recognize those individuals who teach
America's children how to resist peer pressure and live
productive, drug-free, and violence-free lives.

Millions of our Nation's young people have learned
about the dangerous effects of drug abuse with the help
of the D.A.R.E. program. Parents, law enforcement
officials, teachers, and counselors are on the front
lines of this effort and are sending our kids a clear
message that drug use is dangerous and unacceptable. In
classrooms across the country, police officers are
answering students' tough questions about drugs and
crime and encouraging an open line of communication
between students and law enforcement.

My Administration is committed to reducing drug use
among young people, and we are working to cut the
supply of drugs coming into our country and fight
demand here at home. Additionally, we are helping
spread the message of drug prevention through the
National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign and the
Partnership for a Drug-Free America. The Helping
America's Youth initiative, led by First Lady Laura
Bush, is working with community leaders to address
challenges facing young people on a daily basis. These
and other efforts are helping to combat the destructive
cycle of drug addiction.

All Americans have a responsibility to encourage others
to turn away from drug abuse and to make good choices
in life. During National D.A.R.E. Day, we renew our
commitment to providing our youth the knowledge and
encouragement they need to resist the pressures that
can lead them to experiment with drugs and violent
activities. By working together, we can help our
children build lives of purpose and strengthen our
communities, one heart and one soul at a time.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United
States, do hereby proclaim April 10, 2008, as National
D.A.R.E. Day. I urge all young people to make right
choices and call upon all Americans to recognize our
collective responsibility to combat every form of drug
abuse and to support all those who work to help our
children avoid drug use and violence.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord two
thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.