Parents' Day, 2008

Proclamation 8277 of July 24, 2008

Parents' Day, 2008

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Parents teach their children timeless values to help
them make the most of life's opportunities and overcome
its challenges. On Parents' Day, we pay tribute to the
parents who provide their children with guidance,
support, and unconditional love and who help make our
country a better place.

Mothers and fathers are a source of stability and great
comfort in society, and they have a vital obligation to
love and care for their children. Through patient
instruction and a loving example, they instill in
children the principles that make our Nation strong and
ensure that children have the skills to lead lives of
character and integrity. As a child's primary teachers,
parents are responsible for their child's education,
and their efforts will contribute to a more hopeful
future for our country. Parents can help shape our
Nation by encouraging young people to make the right
choices, become responsible citizens, and achieve their
dreams.

My Administration remains dedicated to promoting
Federal, State, and faith-based and community programs
to assist American families and support healthy
marriages and responsible parenting. We are committed
to helping parents and schools enable the next
generation of Americans to realize their full
potential.

On Parents' Day, we honor mothers and fathers and thank
them for their many years of patience and selflessness.
We take this opportunity also to recognize parents of
adopted children and foster parents, who generously
provide children with a loving family to call their
own. We also recognize the parents who serve in our
Armed Forces and the parents of the brave men and women
wearing our Nation's uniform. The members of our Armed
Forces are defending our freedom with dignity and
honor, and America is grateful for the sacrifices that
they and their families make in the name of duty.

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 and consistent with Public Law 103-362, as
amended, do hereby proclaim Sunday, July 27, 2008, as
Parents' Day. I call upon citizens, private
organizations, and governmental bodies at all levels to
engage in activities and educational efforts that
recognize, support, and honor parents, and I encourage
American sons and daughters to convey their love,
respect, and appreciation to their parents.

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