[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 17 (Thursday, January 25, 2001)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Page 7861]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-2400]


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Part IV





The President

[[Page 7859]]

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Proclamation 7403--National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving, 2001
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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 17 / Thursday, January 25, 2001 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 7861]]

                Proclamation 7403 of January 20, 2001

                
National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving, 2001

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Nearly 200 years ago, on March 4, 1801, our young 
                Nation celebrated an important milestone in its 
                history, the first transfer of power between political 
                parties, as Thomas Jefferson took the oath of office as 
                President. On this bicentennial of that event, we pause 
                to remember and give thanks to Almighty God for our 
                unbroken heritage of democracy, the peaceful transition 
                of power, and the perseverance of our Government 
                through the challenges of war and peace, want and 
                prosperity, discord and harmony.

                President Jefferson also wrote, ``The God who gave us 
                life gave us liberty at the same time'' and asked, 
                ``Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have 
                removed a conviction that these liberties are of God?'' 
                Indeed, it is appropriate to mark this occasion by 
                remembering the words of President Jefferson and the 
                examples of Americans of the past and today who in 
                times of both joy and need turn to Almighty God in 
                prayer. Times of plenty, like times of crisis, are 
                tests of American character. Today, I seek God's 
                guidance and His blessings on our land and all our 
                people. Knowing that I cannot succeed in this task 
                without the favor of God and the prayers of the people, 
                I ask all Americans to join with me in prayer and 
                thanksgiving.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the 
                United States of America, by the authority vested in me 
                by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do 
                hereby proclaim January 21, 2001, a National Day of 
                Prayer and Thanksgiving and call upon the citizens of 
                our Nation to gather together in homes and places of 
                worship to pray alone and together and offer 
                thanksgiving to God for all the blessings of this great 
                and good land. On this day, I call upon Americans to 
                recall all that unites us. Let us become a nation rich 
                not only in material wealth but in ideals--rich in 
                justice and compassion and family love and moral 
                courage. I ask Americans to bow our heads in humility 
                before our Heavenly Father, a God who calls us not to 
                judge our neighbors, but to love them, to ask His 
                guidance upon our Nation and its leaders in every level 
                of government.

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

                [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TD25JA01.001
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)  

[FR Doc. 01-2400
Filed 1-24-01; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P