[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 110 (Tuesday, June 8, 2004)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 32241-32242]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-13121]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 110 / Tuesday, June 8, 2004 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 32241]]


                Proclamation 7793 of June 5, 2004

                
National Child's Day, 2004

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Children are a precious gift and a source of great hope 
                for our future. National Child's Day celebrates 
                children and reminds us of the importance of nurturing 
                a child's personal development and providing a safe 
                environment in which to grow.

                Children need our guidance and support. During this 
                time in America's history, teaching our children to 
                love our Nation and its values remains a critical 
                responsibility. We need to help young people understand 
                that freedom is God's gift to every man and woman and 
                that America's legacy is one of ensuring liberty for 
                all. Our children also need to know about what other 
                generations have done to build and preserve this great 
                country, including the service and sacrifice of the men 
                and women who have defended our Nation. To help prepare 
                our next generation of leaders to carry on America's 
                tradition of freedom, my Administration has launched 
                the ``We the People'' initiative to improve the 
                teaching of history and civics in America's schools, 
                along with the ``Our Documents'' initiative to help 
                make the treasures in our Nation's archives more 
                accessible to students and teachers.

                Building a solid foundation of character education for 
                our young people helps to keep our country strong. We 
                live by the immutable values that families, schools, 
                and religious congregations instill in us. To assist 
                these fundamental institutions as they shape 
                generations of Americans, my Administration is 
                supporting Partnerships in Character Education, which 
                helps establish educational programs that focus on 
                caring, civic virtue, citizenship, justice, fairness, 
                respect, responsibility, and trustworthiness. It is 
                essential to teach these morals with confidence and 
                conviction, as they will guide America's children 
                through their lives.

                Government cannot replace the love of a family in a 
                child's life, but it can help create an environment 
                where children can grow into healthy, responsible 
                adults. My Administration has taken several steps to 
                strengthen education and promote the safety and well-
                being of America's children. I signed the No Child Left 
                Behind Act of 2001 to transform education and open the 
                door of opportunity to all of our children. We have 
                also strengthened laws to protect children from 
                criminals and expanded the AMBER Alert system to help 
                recover abducted children. And because the decisions 
                young people make now can affect their health and 
                character for the rest of their lives, my 
                Administration is working to send positive messages to 
                children to help them make healthy lifestyle choices, 
                avoid the dangers of drug use, and to develop healthy 
                eating and exercise habits early in life.

                On National Child's Day, we recognize the importance of 
                working together to create a society that is safe for 
                our children, and we renew our commitment to helping 
                families build a bright future for young people and our 
                Nation.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, 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 June 6, 2004, as National

[[Page 32242]]

                Child's Day. I urge all Americans to set a positive 
                example for children and to work to ensure that their 
                communities are safe and supportive places that help 
                young people grow and reach their full potential. I 
                also call upon citizens to observe this day with 
                appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

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

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 04-13121
Filed 6-7-04; 12:01 pm]
Billing code 3195-01-P