[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 25, 2001)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 48949-48950]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24106]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 186 / Tuesday, September 25, 2001 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 48949]]

                Proclamation 7469 of September 21, 2001

                
National POW/MIA Recognition Day, 2001

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                The noble ideals that became our Nation's 
                constitutional foundation were formed over two 
                centuries ago in the hearts of courageous patriots who 
                risked their lives in the name of liberty and justice. 
                Throughout our history, American patriots have risen to 
                answer the call when the enemies of freedom have 
                jeopardized our liberties. Our military history is 
                replete with heroes who put love of country above their 
                own well-being. In answering the call to defend our 
                ideals, generations of brave Americans have left home 
                and family to protect our great Nation, some never to 
                return.

                National POW/MIA Recognition Day is notably significant 
                for many American families. It reminds us of the men 
                and women who withstood great hardship while imprisoned 
                by our Nation's enemies; and it reminds us of those 
                still missing, loved ones lost at war but whose fate is 
                not yet fully known. We will not forget these patriots 
                who were willing to give their all to preserve and 
                protect our freedoms.

                Nearly 50,000 former POWs live among us, including 
                those held captive during World War II, the Korean War, 
                the Vietnam War, throughout the Cold War era, and 
                during Operation Desert Storm. We owe an incalculable 
                debt of gratitude to these quiet heroes who displayed 
                great honor and indomitable wills and who sacrificed so 
                much for our Nation.

                To the families of those who are still missing, we 
                renew our unwavering commitment and determination to 
                obtain the fullest possible accounting for them, 
                including their recovery or repatriation and the 
                identification of the remains of those who have died.

                On September 21, 2001, the flag of the National League 
                of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in 
                Southeast Asia will be flown over the White House, the 
                Capitol, the Departments of State, Defense, and 
                Veterans Affairs, the Selective Service System 
                Headquarters, the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial, 
                the Korean War Veterans Memorial, U.S. Military 
                installations, national cemeteries, and other locations 
                across our country. This observance will serve as a 
                powerful reminder to all Americans that we will always 
                keep faith with those who served our Nation with honor, 
                integrity, and great sacrifice, remembering those still 
                missing and honoring those who were imprisoned during 
                war.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the 
                United States, by virtue of the authority vested in me 
                by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, 
                do hereby proclaim September 21, 2001, as National POW/
                MIA Recognition Day. I call upon all Americans to join 
                me in honoring former American prisoners of war who 
                suffered the hardships of enemy captivity and in 
                renewing our commitment to those still missing in 
                action. I call upon Federal, State, and local 
                government officials and private organizations to 
                observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and 
                activities.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                twenty-first day of September, in the year of our Lord 
                two thousand one, and of the

[[Page 48950]]

                Independence of the United States of America the two 
                hundred and twenty-sixth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 01-24106
Filed 9-24-01; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P