Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 60 Part 2.djvu/270

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PROCLAMATIONS-AUG. 2 , 1946 VICTORY DAY-1946 BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION WHEREAS on August 14, 1945, the victory of the Allied Nations was consummated by the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of the Empire of Japan, which terminated a conflict world-wide in scope and freed the people of the world from the threat of enslavement of body and spirit; and WHEREAS this victory was dearly bought not only by unlimited expenditure of material and effort but also by a heroic sacrifice of life; and WHEREAS it is fitting that our people should recall with pride the sacrifices which have been made and renew their devotion to the cause for which they fought; and WHEREAS, although victorious in arms, we must not relax our determination or diminish our efforts for the attainment of the final goal-the establishment of a just and enduring peace: NOW, THEREFORE, I, HARRY S. TRUMAN, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Wednesday, August 14, 1946, as Victory Day; and I direct that on that day the flag of the United States be displayed on all Government buildings. And I call upon the people of the United States to observe Victory Day as a day of solemn commemoration of the devotion of the men and women by whose sacrifices victory was achieved, and as a day of prayer and of high resolve that the cause of justice, freedom, peace, and international good-will shall be advanced with undiminished and unremitting efforts, inspired by the valor of our heroes of the Armed Services. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States of America to be affixed. DONE at the City of Washington this 2 nd day of August in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and forty-six and of the [SEAL] Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and seventy-first. HARRY S TRUMAN By the President: DEAN ACHESON Acting Secretary of State August 2, 1946 [No. 26861 Proclamation of August 14, 1946, as Victory Day. 1355 60 STAT.I