Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day, 2001

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 7444 of May 25, 2001

Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day, 2001

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

``Humility must always be the portion of any man who
receives acclaim earned in the blood of his followers
and the sacrifices of his friends.'' These words,
spoken by General Dwight D. Eisenhower following
Germany's surrender in 1945, paid tribute to his fallen
comrades as he humbly acknowledged that their ultimate
sacrifice gave occasion for recognition of his
leadership.

Similarly, we stand as a Nation that is strong and
deserving of praise. Yet we are humbled, because we
remember that the wealth of this Nation's heritage, the
strength of its ideals, and the extent of its freedom
came with a tremendous price. These treasures were
purchased with the lives of American service men and
women, a cost borne prominently by several generations.
We are humbled because so many bright futures, hopes,
and dreams were sacrificed for the abundance of
opportunities we now freely pursue.

Through the course of our Nation's history, more than
41 million Americans have served the cause of freedom
and more than a million have died in its name. On this
noble American holiday, we solemnly pause to remember
the men and women who gave their lives in service to
our Nation. We honor those generations and individuals
who fought for liberty and in defiance of tyranny that
this unique experiment in self-government might long
endure.

At a bridge at Concord, in the muddy trenches of
Europe, the rugged mountains of Korea, the dense
forests of Asia, or across the burning sands of the
Persian Gulf, America's heroes have advanced democracy
around the globe and defended the liberties we hold
dear. We are particularly mindful of our fallen
patriots as we mark the 60th anniversary of the bombing
of Pearl Harbor and the 10th anniversary of Operation
Desert Storm.

We honor the final sacrifice of our service men and
women by dedicating our own lives to peace and the
defense of freedom. For these ideals they fought, and
for these ideals we continue to strive. May we stand
with diligence and with humility on the broad shoulders
of those whose brave deeds and sacrifice we memorialize
today. Let all of us commit this day, whether in public
ceremony or in quiet reflection over a single grave, to
remember them in fitting tribute.

In respect for their devotion to America, the Congress
by a joint resolution approved on May 11, 1950 (64
Stat. 158), has requested the President to issue a
proclamation calling on the people of the United States
to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for
permanent peace and designating a period on that day
when the people of the United States might unite in
prayer. The Congress, by Public Law 106-579, has also
designated the minute beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time
on that day as a time for all Americans to observe the
National Moment of Remembrance.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the
United States of America, do hereby designate Memorial
Day, May 28, 2001, as a day of prayer for permanent
peace, and I designate the hour beginning in each

locality at 11:00 a.m. of that day as a time to unite
in prayer. I also ask all Americans to observe the
National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3:00 p.m.
local time on Memorial Day. I urge the press, radio,
television, and all other media to participate in these
observances.

I also request the Governors of the United States and
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the appropriate
officials of all units of government, to direct that
the flag be flown at half-staff until noon on this
Memorial Day on all buildings, grounds, and naval
vessels throughout the United States and in all areas
under its jurisdiction and control. I also request the
people of the United States to display the flag at
half-staff from their homes for the customary forenoon
period.

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

(Presidential Sig.)B