123STA T . 3 6 2 7PROCL A M AT I O N8 361 — APR. 9, 2 0 09 trem e ndous s ac r if ices made and t h e hardshi p s endured by those w ho fi g ht for our freedom .A merican prisoners of war ha v ee x perienced extreme conditions across the wor l d and many have made the ultimate sacrifice. S ixty - seven years ago , in the midst of W orld War I I, nearly 12 , 0 00 Americans and 76 ,000 F ilipinos were captured while defending positions on the B a- taan P eninsula in the Philippines. As prisoners of war, they endured the Bataan D eath M arch, suffering starvation, torture, and unspea k able conditions. T housands were randomly executed and many perished on this j ourney. During the K orean War, more than 1,600 Americans died under grave conditions at the Pyok Tong camp. In V ietnam ’ s H oa L o Prison — the infamous Hanoi Hilton—Americans endured torture and other forms of inhumane treatment. There are countless tales of the bravery of American prisoners of war— of the burdens borne, of the acts of heroism. These individuals have made great sacrifices and have demonstrated an enduring faith in themselves and in the U nited States. Their commitment calls out to all Americans to live up to our N ation’s highest ideals and to serve our fellow citi z ens with e q ual selflessness and honor. We will never forget their sacrifices. Their spirit of service will inspire the American people for generations to come. N O W, TH ER EFORE, I, BARA C K OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 9 , 2009, as National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day, and I urge all Amer- icans to observe this day of remembrance with appropriate ceremonies and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Inde- pendence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty- third. BARACK OBAMA Proclam a ti o n8361 o fAp ril 9,20 09 PanAmeric an D a y an d Pan American W ee k,20 0 9BythePr e sid e n t of the U nited S t a tes of Am eri c a A Proc l amation A common heritage, an interconnected world, and shared goals and values unite the Pan American community. As a proud member of this group of countries, the United States celebrates Pan American Day and Pan American Week and commits to working with our partners in the Organization of American States to advance a common future. The Pan American community is highly interwoven, and the peoples of the Americas must work together to build the future we seek. When one country faces economic, security, or health challenges, its neigh- bors share in this hardship. Together, the Pan American community can build strong partnerships to surmount common concerns and fur- ther mutual success.
