National Maritime Day, 1995

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Part IV

The President

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Proclamation 6803--National Maritime Day, 1995

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 6803 of May 19, 1995

National Maritime Day, 1995

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

The United States owes much to our merchant sailors. At
our Nation's beginning, these outstanding citizens
opened new avenues of commerce and helped nurture a
fledgling democracy into a beacon of freedom for people
around the world. Since President Franklin D. Roosevelt
first proclaimed National Maritime Day 62 years ago,
the U.S. Merchant Marine has built on its legacy of
patriotism. Its great tradition of courage and valor is
an inspiration to all Americans.

This year, as we honor those who served and sacrificed
for our Nation during World War II, the contributions
of the U.S. Merchant Marine are a special source of
pride. We will always remember the heroism of those
mariners and the dangers they faced to protect our
liberty.

America's Merchant Marine and civilian seafarers have
put themselves at risk time and again to support our
Armed Forces. They provided pivotal service during
OPERATION DESERT STORM, during America's humanitarian
mission in Somalia, and throughout OPERATION RESTORE
DEMOCRACY in Haiti.

Today, our country remains determined to maintain a
strong U.S. flag presence on the high seas, a
commitment central to advancing our Nation's national
and economic security. I urge Americans to join efforts
in support of maritime revitalization legislation and
our ongoing shipbuilding production program. Americans'
pioneering spirit has endowed our Nation with the most
innovative maritime technologies and the most skilled
maritime labor force on Earth. Working together, we can
preserve this critical advantage for generations to
come.

In recognition of the importance of the U.S. Merchant
Marine, the Congress, by a joint resolution approved
May 20, 1933, has designated May 22 of each year as
``National Maritime Day'' and has authorized and
requested the President to issue annually a
proclamation calling for its appropriate observance.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 22,
1995, as National Maritime Day. I urge the people of
the United States to observe this day with appropriate
programs, ceremonies, and activities and by displaying
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.
[[Page 27400]] IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set
my hand this nineteenth day of May, in the year of our
Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-five, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two
hundred and nineteenth.