[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 43 (Friday, March 5, 2010)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 10159-10160]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-4880]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 43 / Friday, March 5, 2010 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 10159]]

                Proclamation 8479 of March 1, 2010

                
Irish-American Heritage Month, 2010

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                From long before American independence to today, 
                countless individuals have reached our shores, bringing 
                vibrant cultures and diverse roots, and immeasurably 
                enriching our Nation. This month, we honor the 
                contributions made by the tens of millions of Americans 
                who trace their heritage to the Emerald Isle.

                Irish Americans fought for our independence, and their 
                signatures adorn our founding documents. When famine 
                ravaged Ireland in the 1840s and 1850s, many Irish men 
                and women sought a new beginning in the United States. 
                Though they faced poverty and discrimination, these 
                immigrants transformed our cities, served in our Armed 
                Forces, and settled the frontiers of our young Nation. 
                Their children, and succeeding generations of Irish 
                Americans, have preserved their culture's values while 
                becoming leaders in every facet of American life.

                During this year's Irish-American Heritage Month, we 
                also celebrate an extraordinary Irishman: Senator 
                Edward M. Kennedy. Throughout his career in public 
                service, Senator Kennedy worked tirelessly to create 
                opportunity for all Americans. His legacy lives on in 
                the legislation he championed, which will bolster and 
                protect the health, education, and civil rights of 
                Americans for generations to come.

                Across the Atlantic, the people of Ireland continue to 
                confront their own challenges with resolve and 
                determination. In the face of violence perpetuated by 
                some--testing a hard-earned peace--the people of 
                Northern Ireland have responded heroically. Undaunted, 
                they and their leaders persist on the road to peace and 
                prosperity enshrined over a decade ago in the Good 
                Friday Agreement. The United States remains committed 
                to supporting the political process and the work of 
                those who have shown leadership in pursuit of a lasting 
                peace.

                Today, the sons and daughters of Erin can look back 
                with pride on their many contributions to the civic and 
                cultural life of America. Like so many of our Nation's 
                ethnic communities, Irish Americans are a people whose 
                hard work and resilience have brought them great 
                opportunity and success, and whose service to our 
                Nation has left it a better place.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by the virtue of the 
                authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws 
                of the United States do hereby proclaim March 2010 as 
                Irish-American Heritage Month. I call upon all 
                Americans to observe this month by celebrating the 
                contributions of Irish American to our Nation with 
                appropriate ceremonies and activities.

[[Page 10160]]

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

[FR Doc. 2010-4880
Filed 3-4-10; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-W0-P