[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 115 (Wednesday, June 15, 2016)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 39173-39174]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-14343]



[[Page 39171]]

Vol. 81

Wednesday,

No. 115

June 15, 2016

Part III





The President





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Proclamation 9460--Flag Day and National Flag Week, 2016
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  Federal Register / Vol. 81 , No. 115 / Wednesday, June 15, 2016 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 39173]]

                Proclamation 9460 of June 10, 2016

                
Flag Day and National Flag Week, 2016

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Two hundred and forty years ago, a small band of 
                patriots declared independence, proclaiming in one 
                voice that we are free to determine our own destiny and 
                carry out the work of self-governance. Driven by their 
                unyielding spirit and drawing inspiration from the 
                Stars and Stripes, a string of 13 Colonies later 
                expanded to become a united 50 States. Throughout our 
                history, the American flag has steadfastly served as an 
                emblem of this great experiment in democracy. On Flag 
                Day and during National Flag Week, we pledge our 
                allegiance to the banner that has served as a guiding 
                symbol on our Nation's journey, and we celebrate the 
                hope it inspires in the American people.

                With hands over hearts, Americans of all backgrounds 
                and beliefs have long saluted Old Glory and honored its 
                legacy. Our flag persists as a powerful representation 
                of freedom and opportunity. Waving high above capitol 
                buildings and courthouses, military bases and embassies 
                across the globe, and on the distant surface of the 
                moon, it calls on each of us to remember our 
                obligations to the Republic for which it stands and to 
                carry forward the unwavering optimism that defines us. 
                America endures because of the courage of servicemen 
                and women who serve under this standard, and our 
                veterans are forever draped in the red, white, and blue 
                when they are laid to rest. Wherever the flag lies or 
                flies, its message is clear: We rise and fall together, 
                as one Nation and one people.

                The American flag invokes pride in our citizens and 
                hope in those who come to our shores in search of a 
                brighter tomorrow. In recognition of the ways it has 
                embodied our ideals and sustained our Nation, let us 
                pay tribute to the Star Spangled Banner and continue 
                striving to create a more perfect and indivisible 
                Union--with liberty and justice for all.

                To commemorate the adoption of our flag, the Congress, 
                by joint resolution approved August 3, 1949, as amended 
                (63 Stat. 492), designated June 14 of each year as 
                ``Flag Day'' and requested that the President issue an 
                annual proclamation calling for its observance and for 
                the display of the flag of the United States on all 
                Federal Government buildings. The Congress also 
                requested, by joint resolution approved June 9, 1966, 
                as amended (80 Stat. 194), that the President annually 
                issue a proclamation designating the week in which June 
                14 occurs as ``National Flag Week'' and call upon 
                citizens of the United States to display the flag 
                during that week.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, do hereby proclaim June 14, 
                2016, as Flag Day and the week beginning June 12, 2016, 
                as National Flag Week. I direct the appropriate 
                officials to display the flag on all Federal Government 
                buildings during that week, and I urge all Americans to 
                observe Flag Day and National Flag Week by displaying 
                the flag. I also call upon the people of the United 
                States to observe with pride and all due ceremony those 
                days from Flag Day through Independence Day, also set 
                aside by the Congress (89 Stat. 211), as a time to 
                honor America, to celebrate our heritage in public 
                gatherings and activities, and to publicly recite the 
                Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States 
                of America.

[[Page 39174]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                tenth day of June, 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. 2016-14343
Filed 6-14-16; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F6-P