|
Memorial Day a day of prayer for permanent peace |
|
May 25, 2017 |
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA: A PROCLAMATION
Memorial Day is our Nation's solemn reminder
that freedom is never free. It is a moment of
collective reflection on the noble sacrifices of
those who gave the last measure of devotion in
service of our ideals and in the defense of our
Nation.
On this ceremonious day, we remember the fallen,
we pray for a lasting peace among nations, and
we honor these guardians of our inalienable
rights.
This year, we commemorate the centennial
anniversary of America's entry into World War I.
More than 4.7 million Americans served during
The Great War, representing more than 25 percent
of the American male population between the ages
of 18 and 31 at the time.
We remember the more than 100,000 Americans who
sacrificed their lives during "The War to End
All Wars," and who left behind countless family
members and loved ones.
We pause again to pray for the souls of those
heroes who, one century ago, never returned home
after helping to restore peace in Europe.
On Memorial Day we honor the final resting
places of the more than one million men and
women who sacrificed their lives for our nation,
by decorating their graves with the stars and
stripes, as generations have done since 1868.
We also proudly fly America's beautiful flag at
our homes, businesses and in our community
parades to honor their memory. In doing so, we
pledge our Nation's allegiance to the great
cause of freedom for which they fought and
ultimately died.
In honor and recognition of all of our fallen
service members, the Congress, by a joint
resolution approved May 11, 1950, as amended (36
U.S.C. 116), has requested the President issue a
proclamation calling on the people of the United
States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of
prayer for permanent peace and designating a
period on that day when the people of the United
States might unite in prayer.
The Congress, by Public Law 106-579, has also
designated 3 p.m. local time on that day as a
time for all Americans to observe, in their own
way, the National Moment of Remembrance.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of
the United States of America, do hereby proclaim
Memorial Day, May 29, 2017, as a day of prayer
for permanent peace, and I designate the hour
beginning in each locality at 11 a.m. of that
day as a time when people might unite in prayer.
I urge the press, radio, television, and all
other information media to cooperate in this
observance.
I further ask all Americans to observe the
National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3
p.m. local time on Memorial Day.
I also request the Governors of the United
States and its territories, and the appropriate
officials of all units of government, to direct
that the flag be flown at half-staff until noon
on this Memorial Day on all buildings, grounds,
and naval vessels throughout the United States
and in all areas under its jurisdiction and
control.
I also request the people of the United States
to display the flag at half-staff from their
homes for the customary forenoon period.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand
this twenty-fourth day of May, in the year of
our Lord two thousand seventeen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the
two hundred and forty-first.
DONALD J. TRUMP |
|
Questions or comments about this
article?
Click here to e-mail! |
|
|
|
|
