[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 198 (Wednesday, October 14, 2015)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 61973-61974]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-26339]



[[Page 61971]]

Vol. 80

Wednesday,

No. 198

October 14, 2015

Part IV





The President





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Proclamation 9344--Leif Erikson Day, 2015
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  Federal Register / Vol. 80 , No. 198 / Wednesday, October 14, 2015 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 61973]]

                Proclamation 9344 of October 8, 2015

                
Leif Erikson Day, 2015

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Since our Nation's founding, we have been driven by 
                strength in the face of uncertainty and by a bold 
                spirit of adventure. These defining forces were 
                reflected in the early discovery of our continent when 
                Leif Erikson--a son of Iceland and grandson of Norway--
                and his team became the first Europeans known to land 
                on North American shores. On Leif Erikson Day, we honor 
                him as an important piece of our shared past with the 
                Norwegian people, and we celebrate the perilous yet 
                rewarding voyage he and his crew undertook one 
                millennium ago.

                Leif Erikson's discovery marks the beginning of a 
                meaningful friendship between Norway and the United 
                States, and we have seen reflections of his team's 
                journey throughout history. The courage that guided 
                these pioneers to North America was also found in the 
                voyage of six families who braved the unforeseen in 
                1825 as some of the first immigrants from Norway to the 
                United States. Fleeing religious strife in their 
                homeland in search of liberty's light, they sailed 
                across the same ocean Erikson traversed more than eight 
                centuries prior. And 190 years ago, these striving 
                newcomers began to weave their unique threads into the 
                fabric of America.

                Today, we pay tribute to those who embarked on these 
                expeditions and recognize the role they played in 
                shaping our legacy as a Nation of immigrants. We also 
                reaffirm the ties that bind America and Norway and 
                rededicate ourselves to our common goals of securing 
                peace and prosperity around the world. On Leif Erikson 
                Day, let us honor his spirit by celebrating our past 
                while fearlessly reaching for the future he knew was 
                possible.

                To honor Leif Erikson and celebrate our Nordic-American 
                heritage, the Congress, by joint resolution (Public Law 
                88-566) approved on September 2, 1964, has authorized 
                the President of the United States to proclaim October 
                9 of each year as ``Leif Erikson Day.''

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, do hereby proclaim October 9, 
                2015, as Leif Erikson Day. I call upon all Americans to 
                observe this day with appropriate ceremonies, 
                activities, and programs to honor our rich Nordic-
                American heritage.

[[Page 61974]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                eighth day of October, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand fifteen, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and fortieth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2015-26339
Filed 10-13-15; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F6-P