[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 198 (Wednesday, October 14, 1998)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 55311-55312]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27747]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 198 / Wednesday, October 14, 1998 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 55311]]


                Proclamation 7136 of October 9, 1998

                
Columbus Day, 1998

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Today our Nation stands on the threshold of a new 
                millennium, an uncharted time of great challenge and 
                opportunity. To fulfill the promise of this new era, we 
                must be adventurous, willing to leave known shores, and 
                eager to embrace change. To find inspiration for this 
                momentous journey, we need only look to the example of 
                Christopher Columbus, who helped usher in a similar Age 
                of Discovery more than 500 years ago.

                A skilled and experienced seaman, Columbus pushed back 
                the boundaries of the known world and charted a safe 
                course across the ocean to a new continent. He was a 
                master at reading and using the winds and discovered 
                the best westward and eastward passages between Europe 
                and North America. As Daniel Boorstin wrote in The 
                Discoverers, ``. . . a sailing vessel today, after all 
                that has been learned in the last five centuries, could 
                not do better than follow Columbus' route.'' Explorers, 
                adventurers, and traders from many nations would follow 
                his lead across the Atlantic, as would millions of 
                immigrants in the centuries following his voyages. 
                Although both a dreamer and a visionary, Columbus--a 
                son of Italy whose enterprise was funded by the Spanish 
                crown--could never have foreseen the multicultural, 
                multiracial Nation that would ultimately emerge in the 
                New World he helped to discover.

                As we enter a new era, let us embrace Columbus' spirit 
                of discovery and embrace as well the great diversity of 
                cultures, religions, and ethnic traditions that we 
                enjoy because so many have followed his course to this 
                great land.

                In tribute to Columbus' many achievements, the 
                Congress, by joint resolution of April 30, 1934 (48 
                Stat. 657), and an Act of June 28, 1968 (82 Stat. 250), 
                has requested the President to proclaim the second 
                Monday in October of each year as ``Columbus Day.''

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the 
                United States of America, do hereby proclaim October 
                12, 1998, as Columbus Day. I call upon the people of 
                the United States to observe this day with appropriate 
                ceremonies and activities. I also direct that the flag 
                of the United States be displayed on all public 
                buildings on the appointed day in honor of Christopher 
                Columbus.

[[Page 55312]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                ninth 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. 98-27747
Filed 10-13-98; 8:52 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P