[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 115 (Wednesday, June 16, 2010)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 34309-34310]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-14726]


 
 
                         Presidential Documents 
 
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 115 / Wednesday, June 16, 2010 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 34309]]


                Proclamation 8535 of June 11, 2010

                
Flag Day and National Flag Week, 2010

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                When the Second Continental Congress adopted the 
                American flag on June 14, 1777, the thirteen stripes 
                alternating red and white, and thirteen white stars in 
                a blue field, represented ``a new constellation.'' On 
                Flag Day, and throughout National Flag Week, we 
                celebrate its lasting luminosity, and the enduring 
                American story that it represents.

                Although the configuration of stars and stripes has 
                changed over the years it has been flown, its 
                significance and symbolism have not wavered. The flag 
                that once helped unite a new Nation to confront tyranny 
                and oppression still flies today as an unequivocal 
                emblem of freedom and liberty. The same flag that has 
                been raised on beaches and battlefields still adorns 
                the uniforms of our heroic sons and daughters serving 
                in America's Armed Forces, including our troops serving 
                in harm's way in Iraq and Afghanistan.

                This past year, that same flag has continued to soar. 
                When our American Olympic and Paralympics athletes were 
                positioned triumphantly on the podiums of the Vancouver 
                2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, our majestic 
                flag flew high above them. From homes to classrooms, 
                civic gatherings to private memorials, we gathered to 
                salute our flag, and in doing so, renewed the eternal 
                promise of this glorious Nation.

                More than 220 years after Old Glory was first embraced 
                by our Founders, the Stars and Stripes remain the 
                symbol of our Nation's pride. On Flag Day and during 
                National Flag Week we recognize the American flag as a 
                symbol of hope and inspiration to people at home and 
                around the world--as a constellation which grows 
                brighter with every achievement earned and sacrifice 
                borne by one of our citizens.

                To commemorate the adoption of our flag, the Congress, 
                by joint resolution approved August 3, 1949, as amended 
                (63 Stat. 492), designated June 14 of each year as 
                ``Flag Day'' and requested that the President issue an 
                annual proclamation calling for its observance and for 
                the display of the flag of the United States on all 
                Federal Government buildings. The Congress also 
                requested, by joint resolution approved June 9, 1966, 
                as amended (80 Stat. 194), that the President annually 
                issue a proclamation designating the week in which June 
                14 occurs as ``National Flag Week'' and call upon 
                citizens of the United States to display the flag 
                during that week.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, do hereby proclaim June 14, 
                2010, as Flag Day and the week beginning June 13, 2010, 
                as National Flag Week. I direct the appropriate 
                officials to display the flag on all Federal Government 
                buildings during that week, and I urge all Americans to 
                observe Flag Day and National Flag Week by displaying 
                the flag. I also call upon the people of the United 
                States to observe with pride and all due ceremony those 
                days from Flag Day through Independence Day, also set 
                aside by the Congress (89 Stat. 211), as a time to 
                honor America, to celebrate our heritage in public 
                gatherings and activities, and to publicly recite the 
                Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States 
                of America.

[[Page 34310]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                eleventh day of June, 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. 2010-14726
Filed 6-15-10; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3195-W0-P