[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 221 (Friday, November 17, 2017)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 55025-55026]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-25164]



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Vol. 82

Friday,

No. 221

November 17, 2017

Part IV





The President





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Proclamation 9674--Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam 
War
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  Federal Register / Vol. 82 , No. 221 / Friday, November 17, 2017 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

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                Proclamation 9674 of November 10, 2017

                
Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the 
                Vietnam War

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Today, I lead our Nation in somber reflection as we 
                continue the 13-year Commemoration of the 50th 
                Anniversary of the Vietnam War that began in 2012. We 
                salute our brave Vietnam veterans who, in service to 
                our Nation and in defense of liberty, fought gallantly 
                against the spread of communism and defended the 
                freedom of the Vietnamese people.

                Fifty years ago, in 1967, nearly 500,000 American 
                troops served in South Vietnam, along with 
                approximately 850,000 troops of our allies. Today, 
                during Veterans and Military Families Month and as the 
                Federal Government observes Veterans Day, I am in 
                Vietnam alongside business and political leaders to 
                advance the interests of America, and to promote peace 
                and stability in this region and around the world. I 
                cherish this opportunity to recall, with humility, the 
                sacrifices our veterans made for our freedom and our 
                Nation's strength.

                During this Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of 
                the Vietnam War, we embrace our responsibility to help 
                our Vietnam veterans and their families heal from the 
                heavy toll of war. We remember the more than 58,000 
                whose names are memorialized on a black granite wall in 
                our Nation's capital for having borne the heaviest cost 
                of war. We also pay tribute to the brave patriots who 
                suffered as prisoners of war, and we stand steadfast in 
                our commitment not to rest until we account for the 
                1,253 heroes who have not yet returned to American 
                soil.

                To ensure the sacrifices of the 9 million heroes who 
                served during this difficult chapter of our country's 
                history are remembered for generations to come, I 
                signed into law the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition 
                Act of 2017, designating March 29 of each year as 
                National Vietnam War Veterans Day. Throughout this 
                Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam 
                War, and every March 29 thereafter, we will honor all 
                those who answered our Nation's call to duty. We vow to 
                never again confuse personal disapproval of war with 
                prejudice against those who honorably wear the uniform 
                of our Armed Forces. With conviction, our Nation 
                pledges our enduring respect, our continuing care, and 
                our everlasting commitment to all Vietnam veterans.

                We applaud the thousands of local, State, and national 
                organizations, businesses, and governmental entities 
                that have already partnered with the Federal Government 
                in the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the 
                Vietnam War. Because of their remarkable leadership and 
                dedication, countless Vietnam veterans and their 
                families have been personally and publicly thanked and 
                honored in ceremonies in towns and cities throughout 
                our country. During my Administration, I promise to 
                continue coordinated efforts to recognize all veterans 
                of the Vietnam War for their service and sacrifice, and 
                to provide them with the heartfelt acknowledgement and 
                gratitude that they and their families so richly 
                deserve.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby confirm the commitment of this 
                Nation to the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of 
                the Vietnam War, which began on Memorial Day, 2012 and 
                will continue through Veterans

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                Day, 2025. I call upon all Americans to offer each of 
                our Vietnam veterans and their families a thank you on 
                behalf of the Nation, both privately and during public 
                ceremonies and programs across our country.

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

[FR Doc. 2017-25164
Filed 11-16-17; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F8-P