National Maritime Day, 2013

Proclamation 8985 of May 21, 2013

National Maritime Day, 2013

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Through every chapter of the American story, ordinary
men and women have accomplished extraordinary things as
members of the United States Merchant Marine. When the
idea of America depended on the success of a
revolution, mariners took on the world's most powerful
navy and helped secure our future as a sovereign
Nation. In the decades since, they have sustained
critical supply lines for our troops abroad--at times
enduring profound losses to keep our sea lanes open.
And through war and peace alike, the Merchant Marine
has driven our economic growth by shipping our products
all around the world. On National Maritime Day, we
honor the generations of mariners who have served and
sacrificed to make our country what it is today.

To keep America moving forward in the 21st century, we
need to expand trade and commerce that creates good
jobs for our people. Businesses in every corner of our
country are stepping up to meet that challenge, ramping
up manufacturing and selling more goods and services
overseas. As they do, our Merchant Marine is making
sure our products get wherever they need to go--from
ports here at home to new markets halfway across the
globe. Their work is essential to growing our economy,
and my Administration remains committed to getting our
mariners the support they need to carry out their
mission.

Whether equipping our service members in the theater of
war or guiding our maritime industry in the calm of
peace, the United States Merchant Marine has helped
keep America strong for more than two centuries. Let us
mark this day by reflecting on that legacy of service,
honoring the men and women who forged it, and saluting
the proud mariners who carry it forward today.

The Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 20,
1933, has designated May 22 of each year as ``National
Maritime Day,'' and has authorized and requested the
President to issue annually a proclamation calling for
its appropriate observance.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 22,
2013, as National Maritime Day. I call upon the people
of the United States to mark this observance and to
display the flag of the United States at their homes
and in their communities. I also request that all ships
sailing under the American flag dress ship on that day.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two
thousand thirteen, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
seventh.