123STA T . 3 647PROCL A M AT I O N8 37 9— MA Y 12 , 2 0 09 and d evot ed ly, and t h e irc o m mitment i s essential f or u s to maintain a healthy q uality of life, a stron g economy, the safety of our families, and aro b ust national security system .M y A dministration is w or k ing to kee p Americans safe and to strength - en the F ederal partnership with America ’ s peace officers. T he Amer- ican R ecovery and Reinvestment Act, which I recently signed, makes $4 billion available for S tate and local law enforcement. This provision will save or create thousands of law enforcement j obs across the coun- try through the revitali z ed C ommunity O riented P olicing Services H ir- ing Recovery Program. The Recovery Act also provides $ 2 billion through the E dward B yrne Memorial J ustice Assistance G rant Program. These measures will put more officers on the street and help those al- ready serving to perform their jobs more effectively. The benefits that peace officers provide come with great sacrifice. Every year, many give their lives in the performance of their duties. Their contributions live on in the communities they strengthened, and their service will never be forgotten. This week, as we recognize their commitment to duty, we renew our pledge to support their families and colleagues. The President has been requested to designate May 15 of each year as Peace Officers Memorial D ay in honor of all Federal, State, and local officers killed or disabled in the line of duty, and to designate that week as Police W eek in recognition of their service given to the U nited States (36 U.S.C. 136 – 3 7) . N OW, THEREFORE, I, BARAC K OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 15, 2 0 0 9 , as Peace Officers Memorial Day and May 10 through May 16, 2009, as Police Week. I call upon all Americans to observe these events with appropriate cere- monies and activities. I also call on Governors of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, officials of the other territories sub- ject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct that the flag be flown at half staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day. I further encourage all Americans to display the flag at half staff from their homes and businesses on that day. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eleventh day of May, in the year of our L ord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third. BARACK OBAMA Proclam a ti o n8379 o fM a y12, 2 0 09 JewishAm e r i canH eri t a g e Mo nth ,20 0 9BythePr e sid e n t of the U nited S t a tes of Am eri c a A Proc l amation The Jewish American tradition e x emplifies the strength of the Amer- ican immigrant tradition. Since Jews arrived in New Amsterdam in 1654, Jewish Americans have maintained a unique identity just as they
