National Days of Prayer and Remembrance, 2006

Proclamation 8046 of September 5, 2006

National Days of Prayer and Remembrance, 2006

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

This year, we mark the fifth anniversary of the brutal
and ruthless terrorist attacks carried out against our
Nation on September 11, 2001. We will always remember
the thousands of lives lost, and the innocent men,
women, and children forever changed by those acts of
evil. During these National Days of Prayer and
Remembrance, we honor the heroism of the police
officers, firefighters, rescue personnel, members of
the military, and private citizens who responded
selflessly in the face of terror. We also honor the
courage and spirit of the mothers and fathers, sons and
daughters, brothers and sisters, and husbands and wives
who continue to grieve for their irreplaceable loss.

As we pray for the families of the victims and reflect
upon that defining moment in our history, we are
inspired by the knowledge that from the pain and sorrow
of that September morning rose a Nation united by our
love for freedom. We remember that we are a people
determined to defend our way of life and to care for
our neighbors in need. The scenes of distress and
devastation we witnessed in the heart of New York City,
at the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania were overcome by
sacrifice, bravery, and compassion. We resolved to
answer history's call to bring justice to our enemies
and to ensure the survival and success of liberty.
Since that day, we have confronted a murderous ideology
by taking the fight to our adversaries and by spreading
the universal hope of freedom to millions around the
world.

We are grateful for the service and sacrifice of the
men and women of our Armed Forces who are advancing
liberty and protecting our country, and we pray for
their safety. We ask that God continue to comfort the
families of those who have lost their lives or who have
been injured while defending our freedom. We will
succeed in this struggle against evil, and the legacy
of peace we leave behind will be the greatest memorial
to the victims of September 11, 2001, and all those who
have paid the ultimate price while wearing our Nation's
uniform.

On these Days of Prayer and Remembrance, we mourn with
those who still mourn, and find comfort through faith.
We give thanks to the Almighty for our liberty, and we
pray for His blessing on all those who were lost and
for strength in the work ahead. May God continue to
watch over the United States of America, and may His
will guide us in the days to come.

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, do hereby proclaim Friday, September 8, through
Sunday, September 10, 2006, as National Days of Prayer
and Remembrance. I ask that the people of the United
States and their places of worship mark these National
Days of Prayer and Remembrance with memorial services,
the ringing of bells, and evening candlelight
remembrance vigils. I also invite the people of the
world to share in these Days of Prayer and Remembrance.

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