United Nations Day, 2003

Proclamation 7726 of October 24, 2003

United Nations Day, 2003

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

The United Nations is a vital international arena for
countries to cooperate in pursuit of political,
economic, and social freedoms. Founded by 51 Member
countries after World War II, the organization has
grown through the years to include 191 Member States.
On United Nations Day, we celebrate the organization's
founding principles of freedom, democracy, and human
rights, and we recognize the contributions of the
United Nations to improving lives around the world.

As an original signatory of the United Nations Charter,
the United States continues to advance the United
Nations' founding principles. We are working with the
United Nations to reduce conflicts around the world,
fight terrorism, abolish trafficking in persons, and
support those in need, including the people of
Afghanistan and Iraq as they continue to build free and
stable countries. As we commemorate the 58th
anniversary of the United Nations, we honor the victims
of the recent bombing of the United Nations
headquarters in Baghdad who worked to advance peace and
freedom.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United
States, do hereby proclaim October 24, 2003, as United
Nations Day. I urge the Governors of the 50 States, the
Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the
officials of other areas under the flag of the United
States to honor the observance of United Nations Day
with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

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

(Presidential Sig.)B