[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 86 (Friday, May 3, 2013)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 26229-26230]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-10757]


 
 
                         Presidential Documents 
 
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 86 / Friday, May 3, 2013 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 26229]]


                Proclamation 8973 of April 30, 2013

                
Loyalty Day, 2013

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                In the centuries since America broke from an empire and 
                claimed independence, our people have come together 
                again and again to meet the challenges of a changing 
                world. We have reinvented our cities with advances in 
                science and reformed our markets with new understanding 
                of the forces that guide them. We have fought for 
                freedom in the theater of war and expanded its reach 
                during times of peace. We have revamped and recovered 
                and remade ourselves anew, mindful that when times 
                change, so must we. But with every step forward, we 
                have reaffirmed our faith in the ideals that inspired 
                our founding. We have held fast to the principles at 
                our country's core: service and citizenship; courage 
                and the common good; liberty, equality, and justice for 
                all.

                This is our Nation's heritage, and it is what we 
                remember on Loyalty Day. It is an occasion that asks 
                something of us as a people: to rediscover those 
                ageless truths our Founders held to be self-evident, 
                and to renew them in our own time. We look back to 
                Americans who did the same, from generation to 
                generation--citizens who strengthened our democracy, 
                organizers who made it broader, service members who 
                gave everything to protect it. These patriots and 
                pioneers remind us that while our path to a more 
                perfect Union is unending, with hope and hard work, we 
                can move forward together.

                Today, we rededicate ourselves to that enduring task. 
                We do so knowing our journey is not complete until the 
                promises of our founding documents are made real for 
                every American, regardless of their station in life or 
                the circumstances of their birth. Progress may come 
                slow; the road may be long. But as loyal citizens of 
                these United States, we have the power to set our 
                country's course. Let us mark this day by pressing on 
                in the march toward lasting freedom and true equality, 
                grateful for the precious rights and responsibilities 
                entrusted to each of us by our forebears.

                In order to recognize the American spirit of loyalty 
                and the sacrifices that so many have made for our 
                Nation, the Congress, by Public Law 85-529 as amended, 
                has designated May 1 of each year as ``Loyalty Day.'' 
                On this day, let us reaffirm our allegiance to the 
                United States of America, our Constitution, and our 
                founding values.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 1, 
                2013, as Loyalty Day. This Loyalty Day, I call upon all 
                the people of the United States to join in support of 
                this national observance, whether by displaying the 
                flag of the United States or pledging allegiance to the 
                Republic for which it stands.

[[Page 26230]]

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

[FR Doc. 2013-10757
Filed 5-2-13; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F3