115 STAT. 2846 PROCLAMATION 7489—OCT. 24, 2001 filling our mission with both compassion and courage, we show our children what putting American values into action means. Similarly, parents should teach their children by word and deed to understand and live out the moral values that we hold, such as honesty, accepting responsibility for our actions, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. Places of worship, faith-based organizations, and other community groups also play an important role in helping to shape young hearts and minds. Government should cultivate a climate that supports families and organizations that seek to instill sound moral principles in their children. My Administration's Faith-Based and Community Initiative proposes a program that will ensure that faith-based and community caregivers are welcomed as partners in these efforts. In addition, my budget triples the funds available for character education in public schools. I have also proposed to extend Federal after-school funding to programs run by faith-based and community-based organizations. During this week, we should reflect on the national character we inherited from our forefathers and on the obligation we now have to stand for morality and virtue in the face of evil and terror. Since September 11, our Nation has shown that we are prepared to respond to the evildoers who have attacked the principles for which we stand. Our national character shall guide us as we wage this war, and in that we know that evil will not triumph. NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 21 through October 27, 2001, as National Character Counts Week. I call upon the people of the United States to commemorate this week with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-second day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-sixth. GEORGE W. BUSH Proclamation 7489 of October 24, 2001 National Red Ribbon Week for a Drug-Free America, 2001 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Drug and alcohol abuse in America annually create staggering societal costs and prevent millions of people from reaching their full potential at school, on the job, and in their communities. The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that approximately 14 million Americans use illegal drugs and 17 million Americans are alcoholics or abusers of alcohol. To improve the well-being of our Nation and to protect our people, we must continue to make the prevention and treatment of drug and alcohol abuse a national priority.
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