[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 221 (Thursday, November 15, 2018)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 57669-57670]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-25127]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 83 , No. 221 / Thursday, November 15, 2018 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 57669]]


                Proclamation 9825 of November 9, 2018

                
Veterans Day, 2018

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                On November 11, 1918, the United States and its allies 
                signed an armistice with Germany to end hostilities in 
                World War I. The Great War exacted a tremendous toll on 
                our Nation. More than 100,000 American service members 
                perished in the war, and the lives of countless others 
                were forever altered. In 1919, to honor and memorialize 
                these sacrifices, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed 
                November 11 as Armistice Day, the precursor to Veterans 
                Day, expressing ``solemn pride in the heroism of those 
                who died in the country's service.'' This year, as we 
                commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armistice, we 
                again salute the generations upon generations of 
                American heroes who have sacrificed so much to secure 
                the blessings of freedom for their fellow Americans.

                We will never be able to repay the debt we owe the 
                brave men and women who have served in the Army, Navy, 
                Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. To the 20 million 
                veterans alive today: this Veterans Day, we recommit 
                ourselves to providing you with the care you deserve. 
                In June, I signed into law the VA MISSION Act of 2018, 
                enacting some of the most substantial reforms to the 
                Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in a generation. 
                This landmark legislation made Veterans Choice 
                permanent, ensuring that our Nation's veterans have 
                timely access to the highest quality of care possible 
                and the flexibility to receive care either at the VA or 
                at a private healthcare facility. The VA MISSION Act is 
                removing barriers to telemedicine and expanding access 
                to walk-in clinics. And it is giving veterans who were 
                catastrophically injured in World War II, the Korean 
                War, the Vietnam War, and the Gulf War the same access 
                to caregiver assistance that veterans of more recent 
                conflicts already enjoy. My Administration is also 
                processing veteran claims and appeals more quickly than 
                ever before, and veterans can now use their GI Bill 
                benefits at any point in their lives. And, for the 
                first time in history, the Department of Defense and 
                the VA will share electronic health records, improving 
                accessibility and easing the healthcare burden on our 
                veterans.

                For many service members, the transition into civilian 
                life can be fraught with challenges. To enhance their 
                access to critical resources and support, I signed an 
                Executive Order that directs the Secretaries of 
                Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security to 
                develop and implement a Joint Action Plan that provides 
                seamless access to mental health treatment and suicide 
                prevention resources for service members in the year 
                following the conclusion of their military service.

                As we mark the centennial of the Armistice, we remember 
                the countless sacrifices that our country's heroic 
                veterans have made throughout our history to preserve 
                our liberty and prosperity. Our veterans embody the 
                values and ideals of America and the timeless virtue of 
                serving a greater cause. With respect for, and in 
                recognition of, the contributions our service members 
                have made to the advance of peace and freedom around 
                the world, the Congress has provided (5 U.S.C. 6103(a)) 
                that November 11 of each year shall be set aside as a 
                legal public holiday to honor our Nation's veterans. As 
                Commander in Chief of our heroic Armed Forces, I humbly 
                thank our

[[Page 57670]]

                veterans and their families for their selflessness and 
                love of country as we remember their service and their 
                sacrifice. Today, and every day, we pay tribute to 
                those who have worn the uniform, and we pray for the 
                safety of all currently serving in harm's way.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the 
                United States of America, do hereby proclaim November 
                11, 2018, as Veterans Day. I encourage all Americans to 
                recognize the fortitude and sacrifice of our veterans 
                through public ceremonies and private thoughts and 
                prayers. I call upon Federal, State, and local 
                officials to display the flag of the United States and 
                to participate in patriotic activities in their 
                communities. I call on all Americans, including civic 
                and fraternal organizations, places of worship, 
                schools, and communities to support this day with 
                commemorative expressions and programs.

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

[FR Doc. 2018-25127
Filed 11-14-18; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F9-P