National Child's Day, 2004

Proclamation 7793 of June 5, 2004

National Child's Day, 2004

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Children are a precious gift and a source of great hope
for our future. National Child's Day celebrates
children and reminds us of the importance of nurturing
a child's personal development and providing a safe
environment in which to grow.

Children need our guidance and support. During this
time in America's history, teaching our children to
love our Nation and its values remains a critical
responsibility. We need to help young people understand
that freedom is God's gift to every man and woman and
that America's legacy is one of ensuring liberty for
all. Our children also need to know about what other
generations have done to build and preserve this great
country, including the service and sacrifice of the men
and women who have defended our Nation. To help prepare
our next generation of leaders to carry on America's
tradition of freedom, my Administration has launched
the ``We the People'' initiative to improve the
teaching of history and civics in America's schools,
along with the ``Our Documents'' initiative to help
make the treasures in our Nation's archives more
accessible to students and teachers.

Building a solid foundation of character education for
our young people helps to keep our country strong. We
live by the immutable values that families, schools,
and religious congregations instill in us. To assist
these fundamental institutions as they shape
generations of Americans, my Administration is
supporting Partnerships in Character Education, which
helps establish educational programs that focus on
caring, civic virtue, citizenship, justice, fairness,
respect, responsibility, and trustworthiness. It is
essential to teach these morals with confidence and
conviction, as they will guide America's children
through their lives.

Government cannot replace the love of a family in a
child's life, but it can help create an environment
where children can grow into healthy, responsible
adults. My Administration has taken several steps to
strengthen education and promote the safety and well-
being of America's children. I signed the No Child Left
Behind Act of 2001 to transform education and open the
door of opportunity to all of our children. We have
also strengthened laws to protect children from
criminals and expanded the AMBER Alert system to help
recover abducted children. And because the decisions
young people make now can affect their health and
character for the rest of their lives, my
Administration is working to send positive messages to
children to help them make healthy lifestyle choices,
avoid the dangers of drug use, and to develop healthy
eating and exercise habits early in life.

On National Child's Day, we recognize the importance of
working together to create a society that is safe for
our children, and we renew our commitment to helping
families build a bright future for young people and our
Nation.

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 June 6, 2004, as National

Child's Day. I urge all Americans to set a positive
example for children and to work to ensure that their
communities are safe and supportive places that help
young people grow and reach their full potential. I
also call upon citizens to observe this day with
appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

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

(Presidential Sig.)B