Mother's Day 1999

Proclamation 7194 of May 5, 1999

Mother's Day 1999

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

There is nothing more precious than the bond between a
mother and her child. With unconditional love and
infinite patience, our mothers nurture us throughout
our lives, helping us to meet life's challenges and
achieve our dreams. Mothers--whether biological or
adoptive, foster or stepmothers--are the cornerstones
of our families, and our families are the foundation of
our Nation. Mothers are the bridges that link America's
best promise to its brightest reality.

The role of women has changed dramatically in the last
half-century, bringing exciting new opportunities as
well as fresh challenges. Today, our mothers can be
mayors and managers, heads of households and
homemakers--yet they still make us the center of their
lives and the focus of their love. Regardless of
whether they work inside or outside the home, we still
turn to our mothers when we need reassurance, advice,
or comfort. Devotion and love, loyalty and
selflessness--these are the traits that define
motherhood.

For 85 years, we have reserved the second Sunday in May
as a special day to honor our mothers for their
strength, nobility, and generosity. In so many ways, we
owe our successes--and those of our Nation--to the
loving influence of our mothers. Although we can never
repay them for their gift of life and love, we can
honor them in person or cherish their beloved memory.
The Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 8,
1914 (38 Stat. 770), has designated the second Sunday
in May of each year as ``Mother's Day'' and requested
the President to call for its appropriate observance.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 9,
1999, as Mother's Day. I urge all Americans to express
their love and appreciation for their mothers on this
day and every day and to observe the day with
appropriate ceremonies and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord nineteen
hundred and ninety-nine, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
third.