Leif Erikson Day, 2015

Vol. 80

Wednesday,

No. 198

October 14, 2015

Part IV

The President

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Proclamation 9344--Leif Erikson Day, 2015

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 9344 of October 8, 2015

Leif Erikson Day, 2015

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Since our Nation's founding, we have been driven by
strength in the face of uncertainty and by a bold
spirit of adventure. These defining forces were
reflected in the early discovery of our continent when
Leif Erikson--a son of Iceland and grandson of Norway--
and his team became the first Europeans known to land
on North American shores. On Leif Erikson Day, we honor
him as an important piece of our shared past with the
Norwegian people, and we celebrate the perilous yet
rewarding voyage he and his crew undertook one
millennium ago.

Leif Erikson's discovery marks the beginning of a
meaningful friendship between Norway and the United
States, and we have seen reflections of his team's
journey throughout history. The courage that guided
these pioneers to North America was also found in the
voyage of six families who braved the unforeseen in
1825 as some of the first immigrants from Norway to the
United States. Fleeing religious strife in their
homeland in search of liberty's light, they sailed
across the same ocean Erikson traversed more than eight
centuries prior. And 190 years ago, these striving
newcomers began to weave their unique threads into the
fabric of America.

Today, we pay tribute to those who embarked on these
expeditions and recognize the role they played in
shaping our legacy as a Nation of immigrants. We also
reaffirm the ties that bind America and Norway and
rededicate ourselves to our common goals of securing
peace and prosperity around the world. On Leif Erikson
Day, let us honor his spirit by celebrating our past
while fearlessly reaching for the future he knew was
possible.

To honor Leif Erikson and celebrate our Nordic-American
heritage, the Congress, by joint resolution (Public Law
88-566) approved on September 2, 1964, has authorized
the President of the United States to proclaim October
9 of each year as ``Leif Erikson Day.''

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim October 9,
2015, as Leif Erikson Day. I call upon all Americans to
observe this day with appropriate ceremonies,
activities, and programs to honor our rich Nordic-
American heritage.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
eighth day of October, in the year of our Lord two
thousand fifteen, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and fortieth.