Flag Day and National Flag Week, 2007

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Part V

The President

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Proclamation 8155--Flag Day and National Flag Week, 2007

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 8155 of June 5, 2007

Flag Day and National Flag Week, 2007

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

The American Flag represents freedom and has been an
enduring symbol of our Nation's ideals since the
earliest days of our Nation. Wherever it flies, we are
reminded of America's unity and in the great cause of
liberty and justice for all.

Two hundred and thirty years ago, the Second
Continental Congress officially made the Stars and
Stripes the symbol of America. The Founders declared
that the 13 stars gracing the original flag represented
``a new constellation,'' just as America embodied new
hope and new light for mankind. Today, our flag
continues to convey the bold spirit of a proud and
determined Nation.

Americans have long flown our flag as a sign of
patriotism and gratitude for the blessings of liberty.
We also pledge allegiance to the flag as an expression
of loyalty to our country and to the belief in the
American creed of freedom and justice. By displaying
and showing respect for the flag, we honor the ideals
upon which our democracy rests and show appreciation
for the freedoms we enjoy today. Flying the flag can
also be an expression of thanks for the men and women
who have served and sacrificed in defense of our
freedoms--from the early patriots of the Continental
Army to the courageous Americans in uniform who are
defending those freedoms around the world today.

During Flag Day and National Flag Week, we honor Old
Glory and reflect on the foundations of our freedom. As
citizens of this great Nation, we are proud of our
heritage, grateful for our liberty, and confident in
our future.

To commemorate the adoption of our flag, the Congress,
by joint resolution approved August 3, 1949, as amended
(63 Stat. 492), designated June 14 of each year as
``Flag Day'' and requested that the President issue an
annual proclamation calling for its observance and for
the display of the flag of the United States on all
Federal Government buildings. The Congress also
requested, by joint resolution approved June 9, 1966,
as amended (80 Stat. 194), that the President issue
annually a proclamation designating the week in which
June 14 occurs as ``National Flag Week'' and calling
upon all citizens of the United States to display the
flag during that week.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim June 14,
2007, as Flag Day and the week beginning June 10, 2007,
as National Flag Week. I direct the appropriate
officials to display the flag on all Federal Government
buildings during that week, and I urge all Americans to
observe Flag Day and National Flag Week by flying the
Stars and Stripes from their homes and other suitable
places. I also call upon the people of the United
States to observe with pride and all due ceremony those
days from Flag Day through Independence Day, also set
aside by the Congress (89 Stat. 211), as a time to
honor America, to celebrate our heritage in public
gatherings and activities, and to publicly recite the
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States
of America.

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