Armed Forces Day, 2013

Proclamation 8984 of May 17, 2013

Armed Forces Day, 2013

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Since the earliest days of our Union, America has been
blessed with an unbroken chain of patriots willing to
give of themselves so their fellow citizens might live
free. Whenever our Nation has come under attack,
courageous men and women in uniform have risen to her
defense. Whenever our liberties have come under
assault, our service members have responded with
resolve. Time and again, these heroes have sacrificed
to sustain that powerful promise that we hold so dear--
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And on
Armed Forces Day, we honor those who serve bravely and
sacrifice selflessly in our name.

Our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast
Guardsmen represent the best of the American character.
They serve with integrity and do whatever the country
they love asks of them, choosing flag over fortune and
service over self-interest. Year after year, tour after
tour, their dedication to protecting us at home and
preserving our ideals never wavers; their commitment to
each other never falters. They are the few who carry
the remarkable weight of our entire Nation, and in
their example we see why America is and always will be
the greatest country on Earth.

Today, we pause to express our gratitude, mindful that
words and ceremonies are not enough and that our thanks
extend not only to those in uniform, but also to the
families who serve alongside them. We are bound by a
sacred obligation to ensure our service members and
their loved ones have the resources and benefits they
have earned and deserve, and only when we uphold this
trust do we truly show our appreciation for our Armed
Forces.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, and Commander in Chief of the
Armed Forces of the United States, continuing the
precedent of my predecessors in office, do hereby
proclaim the third Saturday of each May as Armed Forces
Day.

I direct the Secretary of Defense on behalf of the
Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, and the
Secretary of Homeland Security on behalf of the Coast
Guard, to plan for appropriate observances each year,
with the Secretary of Defense responsible for
encouraging the participation and cooperation of civil
authorities and private citizens.

I invite the Governors of the States, the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, and other areas subject to the
jurisdiction of the United States, to provide for the
observance of Armed Forces Day within their
jurisdiction each year in an appropriate manner
designed to increase public understanding and
appreciation of the Armed Forces of the United States.
I also invite veterans, civic leaders, and
organizations to join in the observance of Armed Forces
Day.

Finally, I call upon all Americans to display the flag
of the United States at their homes on Armed Forces
Day, and I urge citizens to learn more about military
service by attending and participating in the local
observances of the day. I also encourage Americans to
volunteer at organizations that provide support to our
troops.

Proclamation 8823 of May 18, 2012, is hereby
superseded.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
seventeenth day of May, 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.