National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, 2012

Vol. 77

Tuesday,

No. 238

December 11, 2012

Part V

The President

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Proclamation 8914--National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, 2012

Executive Order 13630--Establishment of an Interagency Task Force on
Commercial Advocacy

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 8914 of December 6, 2012

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, 2012

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

On December 7, 1941, our Nation suffered one of the
most devastating attacks ever to befall the American
people. In less than 2 hours, the bombs that rained on
Pearl Harbor robbed thousands of men, women, and
children of their lives; in little more than a day, our
country was thrust into the greatest conflict the world
had ever known. We mark this anniversary by honoring
the patriots who perished more than seven decades ago,
extending our thoughts and prayers to the loved ones
they left behind, and showing our gratitude to a
generation of service members who carried our Nation
through some of the 20th century's darkest moments.

In his address to the Congress, President Franklin D.
Roosevelt affirmed that ``with confidence in our Armed
Forces--with the unbounding determination of our
people--we will gain the inevitable triumph.'' Millions
stood up and shipped out to meet that call to service,
fighting heroically on Europe's distant shores and
pressing island by island across the Pacific. Millions
more carried out the fight in factories and shipyards
here at home, building the arsenal of democracy that
propelled America to the victory President Roosevelt
foresaw. On every front, we faced down impossible
odds--and out of the ashes of conflict, America rose
more prepared than ever to meet the challenges of the
day, sure that there was no trial we could not
overcome.

Today, we pay solemn tribute to America's sons and
daughters who made the ultimate sacrifice at Oahu. As
we do, let us also reaffirm that their legacy will
always burn bright--whether in the memory of those who
knew them, the spirit of service that guides our men
and women in uniform today, or the heart of the country
they kept strong and free.

The Congress, by Public Law 103-308, as amended, has
designated December 7 of each year as ``National Pearl
Harbor Remembrance Day.''

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim December
7, 2012, as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. I
encourage all Americans to observe this solemn day of
remembrance and to honor our military, past and
present, with appropriate ceremonies and activities. I
urge all Federal agencies and interested organizations,
groups, and individuals to fly the flag of the United
States at half-staff this December 7 in honor of those
American patriots who died as a result of their service
at Pearl Harbor.

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