[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 198 (Thursday, October 12, 2000)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 60579-60580]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-26396]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 198 / Thursday, October 12, 2000 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 60579]]


                Proclamation 7358 of October 6, 2000

                
Leif Erikson Day, 2000

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                This year, as we mark the beginning of a new 
                millennium, we also celebrate the 1000th anniversary of 
                Europe's first contact with North America. At the turn 
                of the last millennium, the legendary explorer Leif 
                Erikson--son of Iceland, grandson of Norway--sailed 
                across the cold waters of the Atlantic from his home in 
                Greenland to the eastern coast of North America, 
                completing the first documented voyage of Europeans to 
                the New World.

                In the ensuing centuries, millions of other men and 
                women followed the lead of these brave Vikings--some 
                seeking riches, some seeking adventure, all in search 
                of a new and better life. Families from Denmark, 
                Finland, Iceland, Sweden, and Norway would make their 
                new homes in communities like New Sweden, Delaware; 
                Oslo, Minnesota; and Denmark, Iowa, bringing with them 
                a reverence for freedom and a deep love of democracy 
                that stemmed from their own egalitarian traditions. 
                More than 10 million Americans today can trace their 
                roots to the Nordic countries, and their family ties, 
                traditions, and values have strengthened the warm 
                friendship our Nation has always enjoyed with the 
                people of Scandinavia.

                In celebration of this friendship and our shared pride 
                in Leif Erikson's exploits, Americans have joined with 
                the Nordic countries to commemorate this special 
                anniversary. The Smithsonian Institution sponsored a 
                traveling exhibit earlier this year to highlight the 
                Viking explorations of North America; the Library of 
                Congress hosted an international symposium on the 
                ancient texts of the Icelandic Sagas, many of which 
                were displayed in the United States for the first time; 
                and we joined Iceland in creating our first jointly 
                issued coin to commemorate Leif Erikson's historic 
                voyage.

                These cultural initiatives reflect the strong ties and 
                long history between the United States and the Nordic 
                countries, and we continue to cooperate on many mutual 
                goals. The Nordic countries are our full partners in 
                the Northern Europe Initiative (NEI), which we launched 
                in 1997 to build on the dramatic progress toward a free 
                Europe that occurred following the break-up of the 
                Soviet Union. Through the NEI, we are working together 
                to promote democracy, stability, and prosperity in the 
                Baltic nations and northwest Russia, to facilitate 
                their fuller integration into Western institutions, and 
                to cooperate on such cross-border issues as energy, 
                health, law enforcement, and the environment. In 
                addition, many of the best and brightest entrepreneurs 
                in America and the Nordic countries are collaborating 
                to encourage trade and the spread of innovative ideas 
                and technologies around the world. Americans and 
                Nordics alike value courage, independence, energy, and 
                resourcefulness; working together in this new 
                millennium, we are charting a new course for our people 
                just as exciting and full of promise as the one Leif 
                Erikson traveled a thousand years ago.

                In honor of Leif Erikson and of our Nordic American 
                heritage, the Congress, by joint resolution (Public Law 
                88-566) approved on September 2, 1964, 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 Monday, 
                October 9, 2000, as Leif Erikson

[[Page 60580]]

                Day. I call upon all Americans to observe this day with 
                appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs to 
                honor our rich Nordic American heritage.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                sixth day of October, 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. 00-26396
Filed 10-11-00; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P