Flag Day and National Flag Week, 2009

Proclamation 8391 of June 11, 2009

Flag Day and National Flag Week, 2009

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

In the midst of a war for our Nation's independence, on
June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress adopted
a flag as a symbol of our fledgling Union. The Congress
resolved that the flag be ``thirteen stripes, alternate
red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white
in a blue field, representing a new constellation.''
For generations to come, this pattern would serve as a
compass bearing toward equality and justice for all.

Our flag's journey has been long. It has seen our
Nation through war and peace, triumph and tragedy. It
flew above the walls of Fort Sumter, South Carolina, at
the outset of the Civil War. It stood on Mount
Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima during World War
II. During the Civil Rights Movement, determined
protesters on the streets of Selma, Alabama, proudly
displayed its colors. Following the attacks of
September 11, 2001, Old Glory flew over the
southwestern wall of the Pentagon and the rubble of the
World Trade Center. Today, the men and women of the
United States Armed Forces bear our flag as they serve
bravely around the world.

The flag is still more than a historical symbol: it is
part of our culture. In our schools children pledge
allegiance to our flag and recite the ideals upon which
our Nation was founded. Families sit on their front
porches under a billowing Stars and Stripes. And each
day as the flag is raised above military installations
and government buildings, we are reminded of the great
sacrifices that have been made in defense of our
Nation.

The Stars and Stripes tells our Nation's story and
embodies its highest ideals. Its display reminds us of
America's promise and guides us toward a brighter
tomorrow.

To commemorate the adoption of our flag, the Congress,
by joint resolution approved August 3, 1949, as amended
(63 Stat. 492), designated June 14 of each year as
``Flag Day'' and requested the President to issue an
annual proclamation calling for a national observance
and for the display of the flag of the United States on
all Federal Government buildings. In a second joint
resolution approved June 9, 1966, as amended (80 Stat.
194), the Congress requested the President to issue
annually a proclamation designating the week during
which June 14 falls as ``National Flag Week'' and
called upon all citizens of the United States to
display the flag during that week.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim June 14,
2009, as Flag Day and the week beginning June 14, 2009,
as National Flag Week. I direct the appropriate
officials to display the flag of the United States on
all Federal Government buildings during the week, and I
urge all Americans to observe Flag Day and National
Flag Week by flying the Stars and Stripes at their
homes and other suitable places. I also call upon the
people of the United States to observe with pride and
all due ceremony those days from Flag Day through
Independence Day, set aside by the Congress (89 Stat.
211) as a time to honor America, celebrate our heritage
in public gatherings and activities, and recite
publicly the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the
United States of America.

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