Page:Title 3 CFR 2000 Compilation.djvu/42

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Proc. 7280 Title 3--The President Henry Ford helped revolutionize American industry; performers such as Gregory Peck and Helen Hayes have enriched the arts; patriots such as Audie Murphy, our most decorated soldier of World War II, redefined the meaning of courage; and social reformers such as suffragist Leonora Barry and labor organizer Mary Kenney O'Sullivan fought for the rights of others. Generations of Irish Americans have worked alongside their fellow Ameri- cans to build a more perfect Union, and America is a stronger Nation be- cause of them. During his visit to Ireland in 1963, President Kennedy reminded us that "our two nations, divided by distance, have been united by history." Today, people on both sides of the Atlantic are united not only by history, but also once again by a dream of a better way of life. In the spring of 1998, the people of Ireland and Northern Ireland sought to make that dream a reality at home when they voted overwhelmingly in support of the Good Friday Accord. America remains committed to the Irish people as they con- tinue working to forge a brighter future in their own land. The road ahead is long, but the promise of peace is still within reach, and its rewards are great. This month, as we celebrate Saint Patrick's Day and our shared herit- age with Ireland, we remember as well our common love of liberty, com- mitment to progress, and quest for lasting peace, and we look toward a fu- ture as proud as our past. NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitu- tion and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2000 as Irish-American Heritage Month. I call upon all the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate ceremonies, programs, and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-fourth. WILLIAM J. CLINTON Proclamation 7280 of March 6, 2000 Save Your Vision Week, 2000 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Sight is a precious gift that enables us to experience the wonder of the world around us; but few of us think about what we would do if we lost our vision. Unfortunately, millions of Americans must face this challenge because of conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, or age- related macular degeneration. Our most powerful tool in the battle against vision loss is early detection. A dilated eye examination can reveal signs of many eye diseases and dis- orders long before a patient experiences pain or any other noticeable symp- tom. Through early intervention and treatment, the vision loss accom- panying such diseases can be reduced, postponed, or even prevented. Pro- 42