National Maritime Day, 2017

Proclamation 9616 of May 19, 2017

National Maritime Day, 2017

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

On National Maritime Day, we recognize the important
role the United States Merchant Marine plays in
supporting our commerce and national security. We honor
the proud history of our merchant mariners and their
important contributions in strengthening our economy.

Americans have long looked to the sea as a source of
safety and well-being. Bounded by two oceans and the
Gulf of Mexico, and crisscrossed by inland waterways,
America was destined to be a maritime nation. Our
fledgling Republic expanded and became stronger, as our
Nation's growing Merchant Marine connected the States
and cemented ties among our new allies.

Today, the men and women who crew ships remain
essential to our Nation's prosperity and security.
Those in the maritime industry, including merchant
mariners, promote our economic growth, facilitating the
export of more than $475 billion in goods just last
year and sustaining our critical defense industrial
base. Merchant mariners also actively protect our
homeland, serving as our eyes and ears on the seas.
They serve with distinction and courage, heading into
war zones, and too often sacrificing their own lives
for our protection.

The Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 20,
1933, has designated May 22 of each year as ``National
Maritime Day,'' to commemorate the first transoceanic
voyage by a steamship, in 1819 by the S.S. Savannah. By
this resolution, the Congress has authorized and
requested the President to issue annually a
proclamation calling for its appropriate observance.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Donald J. Trump, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 22,
2017, 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
nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two
thousand seventeen, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and forty-
first.