American Red Cross Month, 1996

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Part VII

The President

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Proclamation 6866--American Red Cross Month, 1996

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 6866 of February 26, 1996

American Red Cross Month, 1996

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Since its founding in 1881 by Clara Barton, the
American Red Cross has brought hope and healing to
citizens and communities across the country. Today,
some 1.4 million trained volunteers work to fulfill the
Red Cross' mission by providing relief to disaster
victims; by ensuring that our Nation has an adequate
and safe blood supply; by training millions of
Americans in essential lifesaving and safety
techniques; and by assisting members of our Armed
Forces, their families, and our distinguished veterans.

This past year, the American Red Cross has carried on
its extraordinary legacy across the country and around
the world. When a bomb destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah
Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, the Red
Cross was there within minutes to assist those whose
loved ones were killed in the tragic blast. After a
series of record-breaking storms and hurricanes ruined
houses and displaced people, the Red Cross served more
than a million meals and helped victims to begin
rebuilding their lives. And today, as OPERATION JOINT
ENDEAVOR works to secure the peace in Bosnia, the Red
Cross is facilitating emergency communications between
our troops and their families at home.

The Red Cross has earned our Nation's deepest respect
and appreciation for its important lifesaving and life-
rebuilding work and for its countless daily efforts to
promote health and safety. This month and throughout
the year, let us take time to recognize this vital
organization and do all we can to further its goals of
preventing, preparing for, and responding to
emergencies.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the
United States of America and Honorary Chairman of the
American Red Cross, by virtue of the authority vested
in me by the Constitution and laws of the United
States, do hereby proclaim March 1996, as American Red
Cross Month. I urge all the people of the United States
to support Red Cross chapters nationwide by
volunteering and participating in Red Cross blood
drives.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-sixth day of February, 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.