[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 182 (Tuesday, September 19, 2000)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 56461-56462]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-24177]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 182 / Tuesday, September 19, 2000 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 56461]]


                Proclamation 7340 of September 14, 2000

                
National POW/MIA Recognition Day, 2000

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                This year marks the 50th anniversary of the onset of 
                the Korean War and the 25th anniversary of the end of 
                the war in Vietnam. For many Americans, these 
                milestones bring difficult memories; for former 
                prisoners of war and the families of those still 
                missing in action, these anniversaries evoke 
                particularly painful memories and emotions.

                In both of these conflicts, hundreds of thousands of 
                brave Americans left their homes and families to defend 
                freedom and democracy in the face of communist 
                aggression. Thousands lost their lives in battle, and 
                the fate of 10,000 Americans is still unknown--they are 
                missing in action. We know that many Americans held 
                captive were subjected to unspeakable horrors, but 
                throughout maintained their honor, strong faith in our 
                Nation, and indomitable spirit.

                There are approximately 50,000 courageous former POWs 
                living among us, including those held captive during 
                World War II. Many still cope with the physical and 
                emotional effects of their captivity. We owe a profound 
                debt of gratitude to these quiet heroes who served our 
                Nation so well and sacrificed so much. And to the 
                families of those still missing in action, we pledge 
                our unwavering commitment to achieve the fullest 
                possible accounting for their loved ones and to seek 
                the recovery, repatriation, and identification of the 
                remains of those who have died.

                On September 15, 2000, the flag of the National League 
                of Families of American Prisoners of War and Missing in 
                Southeast Asia, a black and white banner symbolizing 
                America's missing service members and our unshakable 
                resolve to ascertain their fate, will be flown over the 
                White House, the U.S. Capitol, the Departments of 
                State, Defense, and Veterans Affairs, the Selective 
                Service System Headquarters, the Vietnam Veterans 
                Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, national 
                cemeteries, and other locations across our country--a 
                powerful reminder to the world that we will keep faith 
                with those who so faithfully served America.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United 
                States, do hereby proclaim September 15, 2000, as 
                National POW/MIA Recognition Day. I call upon all 
                Americans to join me in remembering former American 
                prisoners of war who suffered the hardships of enemy 
                captivity and those missing in action whose fate is 
                still undetermined. I call upon Federal, State, and 
                local government officials and private organizations to 
                observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and 
                activities.

[[Page 56462]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                fourteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord 
                two thousand, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and twenty-fifth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 00-24177
Filed 9-18-00; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P