PROCLAMATION 6979—MAR. 25, 1997 111 STAT. 2867 Our laws and government agencies can—and do—offer protections, programs, and services for older workers. The Age Discrimination Act, the Older Americans Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act all recognize the unique rights of such employees, and the Department of Labor alone helps thousands of workers each year through ef- forts such as the Senior Community Service Employment Program. But it is up to employers also to recognize the potential of older Americans as employees—to recognize that by every common measure of job performance, older workers are as effective as younger people because of their unique skills, experiences, and judgment. And, it is appropriate that we designate a week to acknowledge that all workers should be judged and employed on the basis of their individual ability to do a job, regardless of age. NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the United States, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 9 through March 15, 1997, as National Older Workers Employment Week, and I urge all employers when they hire new workers to consider carefully the skills and other qualifications of men and women age 55 and older. I also encourage public officials responsible for job placement, training, and related services to intensify their efforts throughout the year to help older workers locate available jobs and training. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of March, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-first. WILLIAM J. CLINTON Proclamation 6979 of March 25, 1997 Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy, 1997 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Today, the Greek people and the Hellenic Republic will celebrate the 176th anniversary of the beginning of their struggle for independence. On this day, it is fitting that we reflect on the enormous contributions the Greek people have made to the modern world. The legacy of the ancient Greeks, in the fields of philosophy, literature, drama, sculpture, and architecture, continues to influence our beliefs, our values, and our concept of art. And, after more than 2,000 years, the ideology of Greece—as embodied in the concept of democracy—is still the ideal that guides us in charting our course for the future. Greek ideology had a profound effect on our Founding Fathers, who molded the American form of government based upon the principles of Greek democracy. Thomas Jefferson studied the Greek classics in his youth and was inspired by their philosophy throughout his life, most dramatically when he crafted the Declaration of Independence. When
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