[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 39 (Thursday, February 27, 1997)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 9065-9066]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5040]



[[Page 9063]]

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Part III





The President





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Proclamation 6973--American Red Cross Month, 1997
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  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 39 / Thursday, February 27, 1997 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 9065]]

                Proclamation 6973 of February 24, 1997

                
American Red Cross Month, 1997

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Founded over a century ago by Clara Barton, the 
                American Red Cross has evolved from a branch of the 
                International Red Cross into a uniquely American 
                institution, serving our Nation in peace and in war, 
                and through countless natural disasters. Since the 
                Spanish-American War, when the first volunteers brought 
                emergency first-aid and news from home to wounded 
                soldiers, generations of Americans have followed in 
                this grand tradition of service.

                Today, in communities across our Nation, a million and 
                a half volunteers stand ready to help their neighbors 
                at a moment's notice. Last year, Red Cross paid and 
                volunteer staff assisted disaster victims across the 
                country by opening more than 3,200 shelters and giving 
                comfort to 172,000 people. The Red Cross also reached 
                16 million Americans through health and safety courses, 
                including HIV and AIDS education and community outreach 
                programs; collected more than 6 million units of 
                lifesaving blood to keep our national blood supply 
                ready, strong, and safe; and provided immediate 
                counseling and support to the bereaved families of the 
                victims of TWA Flight 800 and ValuJet Flight 592.

                Overseas, American Red Cross workers provided emergency 
                communications for our troops in Bosnia; worked with 
                foreign Red Cross societies to rebuild the lives of 
                civilian refugees in places such as the former 
                Yugoslavia and Rwanda; and provided personnel, 
                financial aid, and gifts of goods and services to the 
                victims of international disasters and armed conflicts 
                in every corner of the globe.

                Since 1881, the size, scope, and complexity of major 
                disasters have placed an ever-greater demand on the 
                resources of the Red Cross. Yet, the generosity of our 
                citizens has enabled the American Red Cross to continue 
                to fulfill its humanitarian mission, providing 
                assistance to those in need and easing suffering around 
                the world. We must continue this tradition, and, in the 
                spirit of service, support this voluntary agency 
                because it truly belongs to all Americans. Each of us 
                can help keep the American Red Cross strong through our 
                donations of time, money, and blood.

[[Page 9066]]

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the 
                United States of America and Honorary Chairman of the 
                American Red Cross, by virtue of the authority vested 
                in me by the Constitution and laws of the United 
                States, do hereby proclaim March 1997 as American Red 
                Cross Month. I urge all the people of the United States 
                to support the humanitarian work of their local Red 
                Cross chapters by volunteering and participating in Red 
                Cross blood drives.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                twenty-fourth day of February, 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.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 97-5040
Filed 2-26-97; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P