[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 42 (Thursday, March 3, 2016)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 11091-11092]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04842]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 42 / Thursday, March 3, 2016 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 11091]]

                Proclamation 9399 of February 29, 2016

                
American Red Cross Month, 2016

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Over a century and a half ago, as gunfire echoed 
                through America's skies and division flared between 
                North and South, a trailblazing woman, Clara Barton, 
                braved bullets and cannon fire to deliver much-needed 
                care, comfort, and supplies to wounded soldiers of the 
                Civil War. Undaunted by expectations of women at the 
                time, Clara Barton persevered, as she had her whole 
                life, and strived to aid those who sacrificed to save 
                our Union. Determined that humanitarianism could thrive 
                in peace as well as in conflict, she carried her 
                resolve overseas upon the war's end and was introduced 
                to a relief organization in Europe that inspired her to 
                come home to the United States and establish the 
                American Red Cross.

                Today, supporters, volunteers, and employees of the 
                American Red Cross reflect the best of our Nation's 
                spirit--responding to tens of thousands of tragedies 
                here at home each year and bringing relief and 
                assistance to suffering individuals across the globe. 
                In the last year, countless people from the American 
                Red Cross and many other service organizations have 
                served on the front lines of disaster and done the hard 
                work of improving our country and our world, never 
                asking for credit or glory, fame or fortune. From 
                floods that ravaged the plains of the Midwest and the 
                coastlines of South Carolina, to wildfires that 
                scorched California, and an earthquake that devastated 
                Nepal, the American Red Cross has distributed almost 
                one million relief items and provided tens of millions 
                of dollars in assistance to victims. And when an influx 
                of migrants from Syria stretched the capacities of 
                countries around the world, the American Red Cross 
                deployed tens of thousands of volunteers across the 
                Atlantic to provide medical care and essential 
                resources. These selfless heroes inspire hope and offer 
                help to those in need, and as stalwarts in our 
                communities, they build individual resilience and 
                safeguard our blood supply.

                The spirit of resilience and service that drives our 
                people in the wake of tragedy is what makes us an 
                anchor of global strength and stability. When hardship 
                strikes, countries around the world look to our Nation 
                for help, and the American Red Cross and similar 
                organizations demonstrate what is possible when 
                compassionate people come together to uphold the basic 
                values that define America--that we are each other's 
                keepers and that we all must accept our obligations to 
                one another. This month, let us be guided by the truth 
                that we all share a similar destiny, and let us support 
                organizations that work to lift up the lives of our 
                planet's most vulnerable people. Together, we can give 
                everyone a place to turn in times of crisis and 
                uncertainty.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America and Honorary Chairman of the 
                American Red Cross, by virtue of the authority vested 
                in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United 
                States, do hereby proclaim March 2016 as American Red 
                Cross Month. I encourage all Americans to observe this 
                month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and 
                activities, and by supporting the work of service and 
                relief organizations.

[[Page 11092]]

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

[FR Doc. 2016-04842
Filed 3-2-16; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3295-F6-P