Loyalty Day, 2003

Proclamation 7671 of April 30, 2003

Loyalty Day, 2003

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

To be an American is not a matter of blood or birth.
Our citizens are bound by ideals that represent the
hope of all mankind: that all men are created equal,
endowed with unalienable rights to life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness. On Loyalty Day, we reaffirm
our allegiance to our country and resolve to uphold the
vision of our Forefathers.

Our founding principles have endured, guiding our
Nation toward progress and prosperity and allowing the
United States to be a leader among nations of the
world. Throughout our history, honorable men and women
have demonstrated their loyalty to America by making
remarkable sacrifices to preserve and protect these
values.

Today, America's men and women in uniform are
protecting our Nation, defending the peace of the
world, and advancing the cause of liberty. The world
has seen again the fine character of our Nation through
our military as they fought to protect the innocent and
liberate the oppressed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. We
are honored by the service of foreign nationals in our
Armed Services whose willingness to risk their lives
for a country they cannot yet call their own is proof
of the loyalty this country inspires. Their service and
sacrifice are a testament to their love for America,
and our soldiers' honor on and off the battlefield
reaffirms our Nation's most deeply held beliefs: that
every life counts, and that all humans have an
unalienable right to live as free people.

These values must be imparted to each new generation.
Our children need to know that our Nation is a force
for good in the world, extending hope and freedom to
others. By learning about America's history,
achievements, ideas, and heroes, our young citizens
will come to understand even more why freedom is worth
protecting.

Last September, I announced several initiatives that
will help improve students' knowledge of American
history, increase their civic involvement, and deepen
their love for our great country. The We the People
initiative will encourage the teaching of American
history and civic education by providing grants for
curriculum development and training seminars. The Our
Documents initiative will use the Internet to bring
information about and the text of 100 of America's most
important documents from the National Archives to
classrooms and communities across the country. These
initiatives are important, for it is only when our
children have an understanding of our past that they
will be able to lead the future.

This Loyalty Day, as we express allegiance to our
Nation and its founding ideals, we resolve to ensure
that the blessings of liberty endure and extend for
generations to come.

The Congress, by Public Law 85-529, as amended, has
designated May 1 of each year as ``Loyalty Day,'' and I
ask all Americans to join me in this day of celebration
and in reaffirming our allegiance to our Nation.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 1,
2003, as Loyalty Day. I call upon

all the people of the United States to join in support
of this national observance. I also call upon
government officials to display the flag of the United
States on all government buildings on Loyalty Day.

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

(Presidential Sig.)B