Veterans Day, 2001

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 7491 of October 30, 2001

Veterans Day, 2001

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Two hundred and twenty-five years ago, the signers of
the Declaration of Independence declared that ``all Men
are created equal, that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among
these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of
Happiness.''

Throughout the course of American history, courageous
men and women have taken up arms to secure, defend, and
maintain these core principles upon which our Nation's
freedoms depend. On September 11, 2001, terrorists
ruthlessly attacked our land and these freedoms. The
terrorists' deluded attempt to assail our spirit
failed, and our Nation's response reveals that the
spirit of freedom is as strong as ever. Our troops are
now fighting overseas to defeat terrorism, and, in that
effort, they follow in the footsteps of the 48 million
men and women who, since our Nation's founding, have
stepped forward to defend our land.

Today, there are more than 25 million living veterans
who served our Nation in times of peace and war. Many
of them willingly entered harm's way to fight for our
freedoms. These veterans have diverse religious beliefs
and come from varying backgrounds and ethnicities. By
their service, they kept America strong, and they have
protected our way of life from tyranny's grip for over
two centuries. At this moment, men and women of the
Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard are
serving around the world. They represent our resolute
dedication to achieving a lasting peace out of the new
challenges and threats of the 21st century.

On Veterans Day, let us pause to reflect on the
sacrifices of all of those who have put on the uniform
to serve in the United States military. Let us honor
our veterans, who proved their heroism and love of
country time and again, from Yorktown and Gettysburg to
Iwo Jima and the Persian Gulf. They consistently
defended our ideals across the globe; and they continue
to inspire those who defend America today, half a world
away. More than a million have died in service to
America; and more than a million and a half have been
wounded. Some sustained serious injuries in combat and
now live with disabilities. Our Nation will always be
grateful for the noble sacrifices made by these
veterans. We can never adequately repay them. But we
can honor and respect them for their service.

As we consider the sacrifices and efforts of our
veterans, we must never forget that freedom comes at a
cost. Therefore, I ask all schools to observe November
11 through November 17, 2001, as National Veterans
Awareness Week, and to invite a veteran to speak at
their school. This ``Lessons in Liberty'' initiative
will serve to honor America's veterans, while reminding
young people of the strong principles upon which our
Nation is founded. Our veterans have much to share with
our young people about liberty, patriotism, democracy,
and independence. They are living examples of the
timeless truth that freedom is not free. I call upon
our veterans to serve our country in a different way,
by teaching a new generation of young Americans the
importance of the liberties they helped secure.

In respect and recognition of the contributions our
service men and women have made to the cause of peace
and freedom, the Congress has provided (5 U.S.C. 6103
(a)) that November 11 of each year shall be set aside
as a legal public holiday to honor veterans.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim November
11, 2001, as Veterans Day and urge all Americans to
observe November 11 through November 17, 2001, as
National Veterans Awareness Week. I urge all Americans
to recognize the valor and sacrifice of our veterans
through appropriate public ceremonies and private
prayers. I call upon Federal, State, and local
officials to display the flag of the United States and
to encourage and participate in patriotic activities in
their communities. I invite civic and fraternal
organizations, places of worship, schools, businesses,
unions, and the media to support this national
observance with suitable commemorative expressions and
programs.

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

(Presidential Sig.)B