Flag Day and National Flag Week, 2008

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 8269 of June 6, 2008

Flag Day and National Flag Week, 2008

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

The American flag has been our national symbol for 231
years, and it remains a beacon of freedom wherever it
is flown. Since the Second Continental Congress adopted
the Stars and Stripes as our flag in 1777, it has stood
for freedom, justice, and the resolve of our Nation.

When Francis Scott Key saw the American flag flying
over Fort McHenry in 1814, he believed that liberty
would triumph. The flag that inspired Key to write our
National Anthem still energizes and emboldens the
American spirit today. As our Nation faces the
challenges of a new era, Old Glory reminds us that
liberty can prevail over oppression.

Since the first days of our Republic, Americans have
flown the flag to show their pride and appreciation for
the freedoms they enjoy in this great Nation. Every
day, Americans pledge their allegiance to the flag of
the United States, and our troops carry it before them
as they defend the liberties for which it stands.

On Flag Day and during National Flag Week, we remember
those in uniform whose courage and sacrifice inspire us
here at home. We also remember the rich history of one
of our oldest national symbols and reflect on our duty
to carry our heritage of freedom into the 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,
2008, as Flag Day and the week beginning June 8, 2008,
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
appropriate 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
sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand
eight, and of the Independence of the United States of
America the two hundred and thirty-second.