[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 101 (Friday, May 24, 2013)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 31811-31812]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-12649]



[[Page 31809]]

Vol. 78

Friday,

No. 101

May 24, 2013

Part VI





The President





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Proclamation 8985--National Maritime Day, 2013



Executive Order 13644--Amendment to Executive Order 13639
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  Federal Register / Vol. 78 , No. 101 / Friday, May 24, 2013 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 31811]]

                Proclamation 8985 of May 21, 2013

                
National Maritime Day, 2013

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Through every chapter of the American story, ordinary 
                men and women have accomplished extraordinary things as 
                members of the United States Merchant Marine. When the 
                idea of America depended on the success of a 
                revolution, mariners took on the world's most powerful 
                navy and helped secure our future as a sovereign 
                Nation. In the decades since, they have sustained 
                critical supply lines for our troops abroad--at times 
                enduring profound losses to keep our sea lanes open. 
                And through war and peace alike, the Merchant Marine 
                has driven our economic growth by shipping our products 
                all around the world. On National Maritime Day, we 
                honor the generations of mariners who have served and 
                sacrificed to make our country what it is today.

                To keep America moving forward in the 21st century, we 
                need to expand trade and commerce that creates good 
                jobs for our people. Businesses in every corner of our 
                country are stepping up to meet that challenge, ramping 
                up manufacturing and selling more goods and services 
                overseas. As they do, our Merchant Marine is making 
                sure our products get wherever they need to go--from 
                ports here at home to new markets halfway across the 
                globe. Their work is essential to growing our economy, 
                and my Administration remains committed to getting our 
                mariners the support they need to carry out their 
                mission.

                Whether equipping our service members in the theater of 
                war or guiding our maritime industry in the calm of 
                peace, the United States Merchant Marine has helped 
                keep America strong for more than two centuries. Let us 
                mark this day by reflecting on that legacy of service, 
                honoring the men and women who forged it, and saluting 
                the proud mariners who carry it forward today.

                The Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 20, 
                1933, has designated May 22 of each year as ``National 
                Maritime Day,'' and has authorized and requested the 
                President to issue annually a proclamation calling for 
                its appropriate observance.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 22, 
                2013, as National Maritime Day. I call upon the people 
                of the United States to mark this observance and to 
                display the flag of the United States at their homes 
                and in their communities. I also request that all ships 
                sailing under the American flag dress ship on that day.

[[Page 31812]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                twenty-first day of May, 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. 2013-12649
Filed 5-23-13; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F3