105 STAT. 2494 PROCLAMATION 6252—FEB. 21, 1991 and Teachers Association Week" and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this week. NOW. THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the week beginning February 17, 1991, as National Parents and Teachers Association Week. I urge all Americans to observe this week with appropriate ceremonies and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 21 day of Feb, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and 91, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fif- teenth. GEORGE BUSH Proclamation 6252 of February 21, 1991 Commemoration of the Bicentemiial of U.S. - Portugal Relations By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation On February 21, 1791, the United States Senate approved President Washington's nomination of Colonel David Humphreys as the first U.S. Minister to Portugal, thereby establishing diplomatic relations between our two countries. Since that time, the governmental, commercial, and cultural ties between the United States and Portugal have grown and prospered. Mutually beneficial ties between the United States and Portugal began to take shape long before President Washington agreed to formal recognition of our Mendship. Indeed, Portugal was among the nations that led the way to the European discovery and exploration of America: dming the 15th and early 16th centuries, Portugal was the center for bold navigational advances that permitted transoceanic travel; there, men such as Christopher Colmnbus and Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo developed the knowledge and skills that made possible their historic journeys along these shores. The history of America would not be the same were it not for the contributions of the intrepid Portuguese people. Since the early years of our Republic, Portugal has been a welcome friend. Even before the establishment of formal diplomatic ties, Portugal extended to American shipping the protection of its navy against the Barbary pirates, who were a major threat to U.S. commerce. Soon after diplomatic ties were established, our two countries developed active trade and commercial relations. With seafaring traditions strong in both countries, the Azores played a key role in facilitating trade and commerce, allowing for the provisioning of whaling vessels and other ships. Today our Consulate in the Azores is the oldest active U.S. consular post in the world. Begiiming in the 19th century, over the oceanic bridge provided by the Azores, thousands of Portuguese men and women emigrated to the
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