[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 198 (Wednesday, October 14, 1998)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Page 55309]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27746]



[[Page 55307]]

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Part V





The President





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Proclamation 7135--Leif Erikson Day, 1998



Proclamation 7136--Columbus Day, 1998
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  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 198 / Wednesday, October 14, 1998 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 55309]]

                Proclamation 7135 of October 8, 1998

                
Leif Erikson Day, 1998

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Almost a thousand years ago, the great Norse explorer 
                Leif Erikson first set foot on the North American 
                continent. In commemorating Leif Erikson Day each year, 
                we honor the pioneering spirit of this son of Iceland 
                and grandson of Norway. We recall the daring of the 
                Viking seafarers, who saw the ocean not as a boundary 
                but as a gateway to another world, and we pay tribute 
                to the courage of their descendants who, centuries 
                later would brave their own ocean journeys to find a 
                new life in America.

                This thirst for adventure has remained a fundamental 
                trait of the American character since our earliest days 
                as a Nation. But men and women of the Nordic countries 
                brought other important strengths to their adopted land 
                as well: resourcefulness, self-reliance, determination, 
                a willingness to work hard, a love of freedom, and a 
                belief in human dignity.

                Leif Erikson's arrival in North America brought not 
                only the explorer's passion to our country, but also 
                laid the foundations of the friendship the United 
                States enjoys today with the Nordic countries. Building 
                on the values we share, our nations have made a 
                powerful commitment to protect and expand political, 
                religious, and economic freedom to peoples around the 
                world. Staunch allies in times of peace and war, the 
                United States and the countries of Scandinavia look 
                forward to the year 2000 when we will commemorate 
                together the 1000th anniversary of Leif Erikson's 
                historic voyage to our continent and celebrate the 
                important and lasting contributions the sons and 
                daughters of Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and 
                Finland have made to the history and heritage of our 
                Nation.

                In honor of Leif Erikson, the Congress, by joint 
                resolution approved on September 2, 1964 (Public Law 
                88-566), has authorized and requested the President to 
                proclaim October 9 of each year as ``Leif Erikson 
                Day.''

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the 
                United States of America, do hereby proclaim October 9, 
                1998, as Leif Erikson Day. I encourage the people of 
                the United States to observe this occasion with 
                appropriate ceremonies and activities commemorating our 
                rich Nordic-American heritage.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                eighth day of October, in the year of our Lord nineteen 
                hundred and ninety-eight, and of the Independence of 
                the United States of America the two hundred and 
                twenty-third.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 98-27746
Filed 10-13-98; 8:52 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P