Loyalty Day, 2013

Proclamation 8973 of April 30, 2013

Loyalty Day, 2013

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

In the centuries since America broke from an empire and
claimed independence, our people have come together
again and again to meet the challenges of a changing
world. We have reinvented our cities with advances in
science and reformed our markets with new understanding
of the forces that guide them. We have fought for
freedom in the theater of war and expanded its reach
during times of peace. We have revamped and recovered
and remade ourselves anew, mindful that when times
change, so must we. But with every step forward, we
have reaffirmed our faith in the ideals that inspired
our founding. We have held fast to the principles at
our country's core: service and citizenship; courage
and the common good; liberty, equality, and justice for
all.

This is our Nation's heritage, and it is what we
remember on Loyalty Day. It is an occasion that asks
something of us as a people: to rediscover those
ageless truths our Founders held to be self-evident,
and to renew them in our own time. We look back to
Americans who did the same, from generation to
generation--citizens who strengthened our democracy,
organizers who made it broader, service members who
gave everything to protect it. These patriots and
pioneers remind us that while our path to a more
perfect Union is unending, with hope and hard work, we
can move forward together.

Today, we rededicate ourselves to that enduring task.
We do so knowing our journey is not complete until the
promises of our founding documents are made real for
every American, regardless of their station in life or
the circumstances of their birth. Progress may come
slow; the road may be long. But as loyal citizens of
these United States, we have the power to set our
country's course. Let us mark this day by pressing on
in the march toward lasting freedom and true equality,
grateful for the precious rights and responsibilities
entrusted to each of us by our forebears.

In order to recognize the American spirit of loyalty
and the sacrifices that so many have made for our
Nation, the Congress, by Public Law 85-529 as amended,
has designated May 1 of each year as ``Loyalty Day.''
On this day, let us reaffirm our allegiance to the
United States of America, our Constitution, and our
founding values.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 1,
2013, as Loyalty Day. This Loyalty Day, I call upon all
the people of the United States to join in support of
this national observance, whether by displaying the
flag of the United States or pledging allegiance to the
Republic for which it stands.

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