[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 236 (Thursday, December 9, 1999)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 69163-69164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32134]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 236 / Thursday, December 9, 1999 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 69163]]


                Proclamation 7259 of December 7, 1999

                
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, 1999

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Early on Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, the 130 
                vessels of the U.S. Pacific Fleet lay quiet and serene 
                in Pearl Harbor. American sailors were preparing to 
                raise colors, unaware that the worst naval disaster in 
                American history was about to unfold. As the first wave 
                of Japanese planes dropped torpedo bombs on the fleet, 
                all eight battleships along with three destroyers and 
                three light cruisers were hit. Two hours after the 
                first Japanese bomber hit its target, 21 ships of the 
                U.S. Pacific Fleet lay sunk or badly damaged. U.S. 
                aircraft losses included 188 planes destroyed and 
                another 159 damaged. Before the bombing was over, some 
                3,500 Americans had been killed or injured. The sinking 
                of the battleship USS ARIZONA remains the most 
                recognized symbol of that tragic day. Of the ARIZONA's 
                crew, 1,177 were killed, nearly half of all the deaths 
                suffered at Pearl Harbor.

                Time has not dimmed our memory of the ferocity of that 
                attack 58 years ago or the pain of the losses we 
                suffered. The assault brought shock and grief not only 
                to the families and loved ones of those who were 
                injured or lost their lives, but also to our entire 
                country.

                The attack on Pearl Harbor shook our Nation but 
                strengthened our resolve. Two days later, in a Fireside 
                Chat, President Roosevelt affirmed that resolve in 
                explaining America's sudden thrust into World War II: 
                ``We don't like it--we didn't want to get in it--but we 
                are in it and we're going to fight it with everything 
                we've got. We are going to win the war and we are going 
                to win the peace that follows.'' Just as the American 
                forces at Pearl Harbor responded to the attack with 
                great courage, the United States responded with 
                determination that this assault would not keep us from 
                victory over the Axis powers. Union leaders agreed not 
                to strike for the duration of the war as President 
                Roosevelt garnered the support of our working men and 
                women to increase war production and build our 
                ``Arsenal of Democracy.'' Millions of American patriots 
                joined the Armed Forces, willing to serve and sacrifice 
                in the cause of freedom.

                Rising from the destruction at Pearl Harbor, all but 
                three of the ships sunk there were repaired and put 
                back into service. Less than 4 years later, the Pacific 
                Fleet sailed victoriously into Tokyo Bay. Today, the 
                Battleship Missouri Memorial is docked on Pearl 
                Harbor's Battleship Row, a fitting tribute to our 
                triumph in World War II. It was Pearl Harbor that 
                cemented the United States resolve to win the war, and 
                it was aboard the ``Mighty Mo'' that the Japanese 
                signed surrender documents in 1945, and peace in the 
                Pacific was finally realized.

                Pearl Harbor is both a reminder of what can happen when 
                we are unprepared and a call for continuing vigilance 
                in defense of our Nation. The world has changed greatly 
                since that dark day more than half a century ago, but 
                our need to remain engaged is more crucial than ever. 
                We must never forget the lessons of Pearl Harbor or the 
                courage, determination, and indomitable spirit of that 
                generation of Americans who recovered from a 
                devastating defeat to win the ultimate victory for 
                freedom, democracy, and peace.

                The Congress, by Public Law 103-308, has designated 
                December 7, 1999, as ``National Pearl Harbor 
                Remembrance Day.''

[[Page 69164]]

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the 
                United States of America, do hereby proclaim December 
                7, 1999, as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. I 
                urge all Americans to observe this day with appropriate 
                programs, ceremonies, and activities in honor of the 
                Americans who served at Pearl Harbor. I also ask all 
                Federal departments and agencies, organizations, and 
                individuals to fly the flag of the United States at 
                half-staff on this day in honor of those Americans who 
                died as a result of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                seventh day of December, in the year of our Lord 
                nineteen hundred and ninety-nine, and of the 
                Independence of the United States of America the two 
                hundred and twenty-fourth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 99-32134
Filed 12-8-99; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P