Father's Day, 2012

___________________________________________________________________

Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 8839 of June 15, 2012

Father's Day, 2012

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Every day, ordinary Americans make extraordinary
contributions to the well-being of our children and the
strength of our Nation by answering one of life's
greatest callings--parenthood. Morning, noon, and
night, they dedicate themselves to their sons and
daughters, expressing a love that knows neither
beginning nor end through small daily acts. On Father's
Day, we honor the men whose compassion and commitment
have nourished our spirits and guided us toward
brighter horizons.

For many of us, our fathers show us by the example they
set the kind of people they want us to become. Whether
biological, foster, or adoptive, they teach us through
the encouragement they give, the questions they answer,
the limits they set, and the strength they show in the
face of difficulty and hardship. Our fathers impart
lessons and values we will always carry with us. With
their presence and their care, they not only fulfill a
profound responsibility, but also share a blessing with
their children that stands among our truest traditions.

Every father bears a fundamental obligation to do right
by their children. Yet, today, too many young Americans
grow up without the love and support of their fathers.
When the responsibilities of fathers go unmet, our
communities suffer. That is why my Administration is
working to promote responsible fatherhood by helping
dads re-engage with their families and supporting
programs that work with fathers. And that is why men
across our country are making the decision every single
day to step up; to be good fathers; and to serve as
mentors, tutors, and foster parents to young people who
need the guiding hand of a caring adult.

All of us have a stake in forging stronger bonds
between fathers and their children. Today, we celebrate
men who have risen to the task, who raised us, and who
do that most important work of parenting, day in and
day out, with love, humility, and pride.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, in accordance with a joint
resolution of the Congress approved April 24, 1972, as
amended (36 U.S.C. 109), do hereby proclaim June 17,
2012, as Father's Day. I direct the appropriate
officials of the Government to display the flag of the
United States on all Government buildings on this day,
and I call upon all citizens to observe this day with
appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

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