[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 183 (Friday, September 19, 2008)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 54289-54290]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-22116]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 183 / Friday, September 19, 2008 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 54289]]

                Proclamation 8289

                
Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, 
                Constitution Week, 2008

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Americans are united by the ideals of equal justice, 
                limited government, and the rule of law. On 
                Constitution Day and Citizenship Day and during 
                Constitution Week, we remember the vision and 
                determination of the Framers to build a free society, 
                and we celebrate the historical document they created 
                to achieve that goal.

                More than two centuries ago, our Founding Fathers 
                gathered in Philadelphia and produced a charter that 
                would promote justice and preserve the liberty of all 
                our citizens. The Founders established three separate 
                branches of Government with a system of checks and 
                balances among them. Ours is the oldest written 
                constitution in the world, and the American experiment 
                remains the world's best hope for freedom.

                The Constitution forged the American creed of liberty 
                and equality and has lifted the lives of countless 
                individuals. Whether they are citizens by birth or by 
                oath, Americans share a great tradition of enjoying 
                liberty protected by a constitutional government of 
                their choosing.

                On Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and during 
                Constitution Week, Americans come together and 
                recognize the blessings bestowed upon our great Nation. 
                On this occasion we celebrate the courage of the 
                Constitution's drafters and recommit ourselves to 
                making the United States a more perfect union.

                In recognition of the signing of the Constitution and 
                of Americans who strive to fulfill the duties and 
                responsibilities of citizenship, the Congress, by joint 
                resolution of February 29, 1952 (36 U.S.C. 106, as 
                amended), designated September 17 as ``Constitution Day 
                and Citizenship Day,'' and by joint resolution of 
                August 2, 1956 (36 U.S.C. 108, as amended), requested 
                that the President proclaim the week beginning 
                September 17 and ending September 23 of each year as 
                ``Constitution Week.''

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the 
                United States of America, do hereby proclaim September 
                17, 2008, as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and 
                September 17 through September 23, 2008, as 
                Constitution Week. I encourage Federal, State, and 
                local officials, as well as leaders of civic, social, 
                and educational organizations, to conduct ceremonies 
                and programs that celebrate our Constitution and 
                reaffirm our rights and responsibilities as citizens of 
                this great Nation.

[[Page 54290]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord 
                two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
                third.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. E8-22116
Filed 9-18-08; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P