Veterans Day, 2002

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Part III

The President

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Proclamation 7623--Veterans Day, 2002

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 7623 of November 6, 2002

Veterans Day, 2002

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

America was founded on the principles of liberty,
opportunity, and justice for all, and on Veterans Day
we recognize the men and women of our Armed Forces who
have valiantly defended these values throughout our
Nation's history. These remarkable individuals have
helped to make our Nation secure and to advance the
cause of freedom worldwide. By answering the call of
duty and risking their lives to protect their fellow
countrymen, these patriots have inspired our Nation
with their courage, compassion, and dedication.

There are currently more than 25 million living
American veterans, many of whom put their lives on the
line to preserve our freedoms. Our veterans served on
the land, at sea, and in the air, from the shores of
Omaha Beach and the jungles of Vietnam, to the sands of
the Persian Gulf, the mountains of Afghanistan, and
many other battlefields around the globe. Through each
of these challenges, the members of the Army, Navy, Air
Force, Marines, and Coast Guard have protected our
country and liberated millions of people around the
world from the threats of tyranny and terror.

Our proud veterans have also helped to shape the
American character. They have given us an extraordinary
legacy of patriotism and honor, and their service
represents the highest form of citizenship. So that
young Americans can better understand the commitment
and sacrifice of these heroes in securing the blessings
of liberty, I ask all schools to observe November 10
through November 16, 2002, as National Veterans
Awareness Week. I encourage educators to invite
veterans to teach our young people about their
experiences. By sharing their knowledge on some of the
most proud and dramatic moments in our history, they
can help educate and inspire a new generation of
Americans.

On the observance of Veterans Day in 1954, President
Dwight D. Eisenhower called on all citizens to not only
remember ``the sacrifices of all those who fought so
valiantly...'' but also to rededicate themselves ``to
the task of promoting an enduring peace....'' Today,
almost 50 years later, we remember the dedication of
our veterans, and resolve ourselves to upholding their
legacy of justice, liberty, and opportunity for all.

In recognition of the contributions our service men and
women have made to the cause of peace and freedom
around the world, 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, 2002, as Veterans Day and urge all Americans to
observe November 10 through November 16, 2002, 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
sixth day of November, in the year of our Lord two
thousand two, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and twenty-seventh.

(Presidential Sig.)B