Older Americans Month, 1996

Proclamation 6894 of May 13, 1996

Older Americans Month, 1996

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

America's high standard of living, advanced health care
system, and commitment to better nutrition and physical
fitness have allowed millions of our citizens the
luxury of long and fulfilling lives. Because current
estimates indicate that one in six Americans will be 65
or older by the year 2020, our Nation faces new
challenges as we seek to address the needs of this
growing population of seniors.

Fortunately, many of our older Americans--who have
already led the way in setting a sound course for our
country's future--are helping us to meet these new
challenges as well. Having lived through times of
depression and war, peace and prosperity, they have
shaped our progress with their achievements. The safety
net they created--including Social Security, Medicare,
Medicaid, and the provisions of the Older Americans
Act--helps us to honor our debt to senior citizens and
ensures that Americans who have worked hard throughout
their lives can look forward to a secure retirement.

Each year, we set aside the month of May as a special
time to pay tribute to older Americans and to affirm
our obligation to sustain and improve their quality of
life. The theme of this year's observance, ``Aging: A
Lifetime Opportunity,'' underscores the gifts that
older people offer to our country every day. Thanks to
senior citizens, our communities are stronger, our
Nation is more diverse, and we are better prepared to
meet the challenges of the next century.

As we celebrate the contributions of all those in their
golden years, let us recognize that long life is a gift
we must cherish and a responsibility for which we must
prepare. With an eye toward the future and with the
example of today's seniors firmly before us, we can
prepare for a better tomorrow for ourselves and for the
generations of Americans to come.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, 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 May 1996, as Older Americans
Month. I call upon Government officials, businesses,
communities, volunteers, educators, and all the people
of the United States to acknowledge the contributions
made by older Americans this month and throughout the
year.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
thirteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord nineteen
hundred and ninety-six, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and twentieth.