[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 77 (Tuesday, April 22, 1997)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 19663-19664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10604]



[[Page 19661]]

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Part II





The President





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 Proclamation 6991--National Day of Prayer, 1997

Executive Order 13044--Amending Executive Order 12752, Implementation 
of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, as 
Amended, and the Food for Progress Act of 1985, as Amended
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  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 77 / Tuesday, April 22, 1997 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 19663]]

                Proclamation 6991 of April 18, 1997

                
National Day of Prayer, 1997

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                America was born out of intense conflict as our 
                forefathers fought the forces of oppression and 
                tyranny. From our earliest history, Americans have 
                always looked to God for strength and encouragement in 
                those moments when darkness seemed to encroach from 
                every side. Our people have always believed in the 
                power of prayer and have called upon the name of the 
                Lord through times of peace and war, hope and despair, 
                prosperity and decline.

                In his first inaugural address, during the rush of 
                optimism that followed the Colonies' uplifting victory 
                in the American Revolution, George Washington observed 
                that ``it would be peculiarly improper to omit, in this 
                first official act my fervent supplications to that 
                Almighty Being who rules over the universe.'' Amid the 
                bleak turmoil of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln 
                conveyed similar sentiments by calling Americans to ``a 
                firm reliance on Him who has never yet forsaken this 
                favored land.'' Almost a century later, Harry Truman 
                emphasized the need for God's help in making decisions: 
                ``when we are striving to strengthen the foundation of 
                peace and security we stand in special need of divine 
                support.''

                Indeed, the familiar phrase ``In God we trust,'' which 
                has been our national motto for more than 40 years and 
                which first appeared on our coinage during the Civil 
                War, is a fitting testimony to the prayers offered up 
                by American women and men through the centuries. Today 
                within our Nation's Capitol Building, a stained glass 
                window depicts General Washington humbly kneeling and 
                repeating the words of the 16th Psalm, ``Preserve me, O 
                God, for in Thee do I put my trust.''

                As we face the last years of the 20th century, let us 
                uphold the tradition of observing a day in which every 
                American, in his or her own way, may come before God 
                seeking increased peace, guidance, and wisdom for the 
                challenges ahead. Even as we continue to work toward 
                hopeful solutions, may our national resolve be matched 
                by a firm reliance on the Author of our lives--for 
                truly it is in God that we trust.

                The Congress, by Public Law 100-307, has called our 
                citizens to reaffirm annually our dependence on 
                Almighty God by recognizing a ``National Day of 
                Prayer.''

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the 
                United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 1, 
                1997, as a National Day of Prayer. As in previous 
                years, let us once again celebrate this day in the 
                tradition of our Founders by humbly asking for divine 
                help in maintaining the courage, determination, faith, 
                and vigilance so necessary to our continued advancement 
                as a people. On this National Day of Prayer, may all 
                Americans come together to reaffirm our reliance upon 
                our Creator, and, in the words of Franklin Roosevelt, 
                to ``pray to Him now for the vision to see our way 
                clearly.''

[[Page 19664]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                eighteenth day of April, 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. 97-10604
Filed 4-21-97; 11:16 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P