[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 87 (Friday, May 4, 2012)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 26645-26646]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-11011]



[[Page 26643]]

Vol. 77

Friday,

No. 87

May 4, 2012

Part IV





The President





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Proclamation 8806--Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, 
2012



Proclamation 8807--National Building Safety Month, 2012



Proclamation 8808--National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, 2012



Proclamation 8809--Older Americans Month, 2012



Proclamation 8810--Law Day, U.S.A., 2012



Proclamation 8811--Loyalty Day, 2012



Proclamation 8812--National Day of Prayer, 2012
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  Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 87 / Friday, May 4, 2012 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 26645]]

                Proclamation 8806 of May 1, 2012

                
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage 
                Month, 2012

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Generations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders 
                (AAPIs) have helped make America what it is today. 
                Their histories recall bitter hardships and proud 
                accomplishments--from the laborers who connected our 
                coasts one-and-a-half centuries ago, to the patriots 
                who fought overseas while their families were interned 
                at home, from those who endured the harsh conditions of 
                Angel Island, to the innovators and entrepreneurs who 
                are driving our Nation's economic growth in Silicon 
                Valley and beyond. Asian American and Pacific Islander 
                Heritage Month offers us an opportunity to celebrate 
                the vast contributions Asian Americans and Pacific 
                Islanders have made to our Nation, reflect on the 
                challenges still faced by AAPI communities, and 
                recommit to making the American dream a reality for 
                all.

                Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders comprise many 
                ethnicities and languages, and their myriad 
                achievements embody the American experience. Asian 
                Americans and Pacific Islanders have started 
                businesses, including some of our Nation's most 
                successful and dynamic enterprises. AAPI men and women 
                are leaders in every aspect of American life--in 
                government and industry, science and medicine, the arts 
                and our Armed Forces, education and sports.

                Yet, while we celebrate these successes, we must 
                remember that too often Asian American and Pacific 
                Islanders face significant adversity. Many AAPI 
                communities continue to fight prejudice and struggle to 
                overcome disparities in education, employment, housing, 
                and health care. My Administration remains committed to 
                addressing these unique challenges. Through the White 
                House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific 
                Islanders, we are working to expand opportunities for 
                AAPI communities by improving access to Federal 
                programs where Asian American and Pacific Islanders are 
                currently underserved. To learn more about the 
                Initiative, visit www.WhiteHouse.gov/AAPI.

                As we also take this occasion to reflect on our past, 
                we mark 70 years since the Executive Order that 
                authorized the internment of Japanese-Americans during 
                World War II. Last month, I announced my intent to 
                posthumously award the Presidential Medal of Freedom--
                the country's highest civilian honor--to Gordon 
                Hirabayashi, who openly defied this forced relocation, 
                and bravely took his challenge all the way to the 
                United States Supreme Court.

                This year, we also commemorate the 100th anniversary of 
                the first Japanese cherry blossom trees planted in 
                Washington, D.C., an enduring symbol of the friendship 
                shared between the United States and Japan and a 
                reminder of America's standing as a Pacific nation. 
                Over the centuries, we have maintained a long, rich 
                history of engagement in the Asia-Pacific region, and 
                our AAPI communities have been essential to 
                strengthening the economic, political, and social bonds 
                we share with our partners around the world.

                This month, we reflect on the indelible ways AAPI 
                communities have shaped our national life. As we 
                celebrate centuries of trial and triumph, let us

[[Page 26646]]

                rededicate ourselves to making our Nation a place that 
                welcomes the contributions of all people, all colors, 
                and all creeds, and ensures the American dream is 
                within reach for all who seek it.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim May 2012 as Asian 
                American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. I call 
                upon all Americans to visit 
                www.AsianPacificHeritage.gov to learn more about the 
                history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and 
                to observe this month with appropriate programs and 
                activities.

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

[FR Doc. 2012-11011
Filed 5-3-12; 2:00 pm]
Billing code 3295-F2-P