[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 99 (Wednesday, May 24, 2017)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 23997-23998]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10851]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 82 , No. 99 / Wednesday, May 24, 2017 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 23997]]


                Proclamation 9616 of May 19, 2017

                
National Maritime Day, 2017

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                On National Maritime Day, we recognize the important 
                role the United States Merchant Marine plays in 
                supporting our commerce and national security. We honor 
                the proud history of our merchant mariners and their 
                important contributions in strengthening our economy.

                Americans have long looked to the sea as a source of 
                safety and well-being. Bounded by two oceans and the 
                Gulf of Mexico, and crisscrossed by inland waterways, 
                America was destined to be a maritime nation. Our 
                fledgling Republic expanded and became stronger, as our 
                Nation's growing Merchant Marine connected the States 
                and cemented ties among our new allies.

                Today, the men and women who crew ships remain 
                essential to our Nation's prosperity and security. 
                Those in the maritime industry, including merchant 
                mariners, promote our economic growth, facilitating the 
                export of more than $475 billion in goods just last 
                year and sustaining our critical defense industrial 
                base. Merchant mariners also actively protect our 
                homeland, serving as our eyes and ears on the seas. 
                They serve with distinction and courage, heading into 
                war zones, and too often sacrificing their own lives 
                for our protection.

                The Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 20, 
                1933, has designated May 22 of each year as ``National 
                Maritime Day,'' to commemorate the first transoceanic 
                voyage by a steamship, in 1819 by the S.S. Savannah. By 
                this resolution, the Congress has authorized and 
                requested the President to issue annually a 
                proclamation calling for its appropriate observance.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, Donald J. Trump, President of the 
                United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 22, 
                2017, 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 23998]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand seventeen, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                first.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2017-10851
 Filed 5-23-17; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F7-P