106 STAT. 5404 PROCLAMATION 6475—SEPT. 23, 1992 Through the eyewitness testimony of former American prisoners of war, we know that many were subjected to extreme deprivation and torture, in violation of fundamental standards of morality and in stark contravention of international agreements governing treatment of war prisoners. Their experiences have not only underscored our debt to those who risked their lives and liberty for our sake but also strengthened our resolve to secure the return of any Americans who may still be held against their will. Doing so remains a matter of highest national priority, as do our efforts to obtain the fullest possible accounting for the missing and the repatriation of all recoverable remains of those who died as a result of their service to our Nation. On this occasion, we renew our pledge to obtain the answers that the families of these Americans deserve, in order that they may gain the peace of certainty and share more fully in the celebration of freedom's expansion around the globe. NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim September 18, 1992, as National POW/ MIA Recognition Day. I urge all Americans to join in honoring former American POWs as well as those service members and civilians who are still missing and unaccounted for as a result of serving our Nation. I also encourage all Americans to join in saluting the families of these individuals for their dedication to the truth and for their perseverance in seeking answers. Finally, I call on State and local government officials, as well as private organizations, to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and seventeenth. GEORGE BUSH Proclamation 6475 of September 23, 1992 Gold Star Mother's Day, 1992 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Now that Marxist-Leninist regimes around the world have crumbled, now that dictators from Baghdad to Havana have found themselves isolated in a world that is growing freer by the day, one of the greatest risks we face as a Nation is that of forgetfulness. While we rightly celebrate improved prospects for international cooperation and peace, we must not forget that the preservation of freedom requires eternal vigilance and resolve. Only by remembering the lessons of the past can we ensure our liberty and security in the future; only by honoring the memory of those who fought and died for our country can we fully appreciate our way of life. One group of Americans who will never forget the price that has been paid for our freedom is the Gold Star Mothers, women whose sons and daughters have died in service to our country. There is little that we can offer in consolation to America's Gold Star Mothers. Yet, while it is beyond our earthly power to alleviate their
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