12 2 STA T .53 23 PROCL A M AT I O N8 2 69—JU N E 6 , 2 0 08 Proclam a ti o n8269 o fJu n e 6 , 2 0 08 FlagD a y a ndN a tio nal Flag We e k,20 0 8BythePr e sid e n t of the U nited S t a tes of Am eri c a A Proc l amation TheAm e ricanfl a g ha sb een ou rna t ional s y mbol for 231 years , an d it remains a beacon of freedom w here v er it is flown .S ince the Second C ontinental Congress ado p ted the Stars and Stripes as our flag in 1 7 77, it has stood for freedom, j ustice, and the resolve of our N ation. W hen F rancis Scott K ey saw the American flag flying over Fort M c H enry in 1 8 1 4 , he believed that liberty would triumph. The flag that inspired Key to write our National Anthem still energi z es and emboldens the American spirit today. As our Nation faces the chal - lenges of a new era, O ld G lory reminds us that liberty can prevail over oppression. Since the first days of our R epublic, Americans have flown the flag to show their pride and appreciation for the freedoms they enjoy in this great Nation. E very day, Americans pledge their allegiance to the flag of the U nited States, and our troops carry it before them as they defend the liberties for which it stands. On Flag D ay and during National Flag Wee k , we remember those in uniform whose courage and sacrifice inspire us here at home. We also remember the rich history of one of our oldest national symbols and reflect on our duty to carry our heritage of freedom into the future. To commemorate the adoption of our flag, the Congress, by joint reso- lution approved August 3, 1 9 49, as amended (6 3 Stat. 492 ) , designated J une 14 of each year as ‘ ‘Flag Day ’ ’andre q uested that the P resident issue an annual proclamation calling for its observance and for the dis- play of the flag of the United States on all Federal Government build- ings. The Congress also requested, by joint resolution approved June 9, 1966, as amended (8 0 Stat. 194), that the President issue annually a proclamation designating the week in which June 14 occurs as ‘‘Na- tional Flag Week’’ and calling upon all citizens of the United States to display the flag during that week. NOW, THEREFORE, I , GEORGE W. B USH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim June 14, 2008, as Flag Day and the week beginning June 8, 2008, as National Flag Week. I direct the appropriate officials to display the flag on all Federal Government buildings during that week, and I urge all Americans to observe Flag Day and National Flag Week by flying the Stars and Stripes from their homes and other appropriate places. I also call upon the people of the United States to observe with pride and all due ceremony those days from Flag Day through Independence Day, also set aside by the Con- gress (89 Stat. 211), as a time to honor America, to celebrate our herit- age in public gatherings and activities, and to publicly recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this si x th day of June, in the year of our L ord two thousand eight, and of the Inde-
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