[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 214 (Tuesday, November 5, 2019)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 59707-59708]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-24285]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 84 , No. 214 / Tuesday, November 5, 2019 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 59707]]


                Proclamation 9962 of October 31, 2019

                
National Veterans and Military Families Month, 
                2019

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                The United States is a beacon of hope, freedom, and 
                opportunity to people around the world. The Soldiers, 
                Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen who fight 
                to defend our liberty embody courage, patriotism, and 
                loyalty. These patriots safeguard the values that keep 
                our great Nation strong. During National Veterans and 
                Military Families Month, we honor and express our deep 
                appreciation for these brave men and women and their 
                families.

                Throughout our Nation's history, our military men and 
                women have boldly answered the call of duty to defend 
                our Nation's independence and precious liberties, 
                risking life and limb for their fellow Americans. At 
                the inception of our Republic, General George 
                Washington and his men struggled to keep the spark of 
                faith and hope alive through the scourge of disease and 
                the brutal winter months at Valley Forge. One hundred 
                and forty years later during World War I, American 
                service members shed blood in the trenches of Western 
                Europe, leaving a legacy of heroism and courage under 
                fire at places like Belleau Wood and the River Somme. 
                Earlier this year, we commemorated the 75th anniversary 
                of D-Day, when thousands of American heroes charged 
                through a hail of machine gun fire and left their 
                gallant mark on the pages of history. The courage of 
                our men and women who served and fought during that war 
                freed the world from the shroud of tyranny and ended 
                the oppression of millions across the globe. In the 
                decades since World War II, Americans have remained at 
                the vanguard in defending freedom around the world, and 
                our service members, veterans, and their families 
                continue to spearhead this noble undertaking.

                America's military men and women and their families are 
                vital to the security and prosperity of our Nation. We 
                have a responsibility to protect and serve those who 
                have made countless sacrifices for love of country. As 
                President Lincoln once said: ``Honor to the soldier and 
                sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country's 
                cause. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares for his 
                brother in the field and serves, as best he can, the 
                same cause.'' We also recognize the integral role our 
                more than 2.6 million military family members play in 
                supporting our Armed Forces and contributing to their 
                mission. While our military men and women are serving 
                at home or overseas, it is our duty to provide their 
                families with the resources they need to thrive in our 
                communities. Accordingly, under my Administration, the 
                Department of Defense has created programs for military 
                families that support access to quality childcare and 
                spousal employment and promote occupational licensure 
                reciprocity between States.

                We also recognize that our obligation to our military 
                men and women does not end after their time in uniform. 
                We are a Nation that leaves no American behind, and 
                that includes our veterans and their family members. 
                For this reason, I was pleased to sign into law the VA 
                MISSION Act of 2018, which helps provide all veterans 
                with access to trusted, high-quality healthcare. I have 
                also made it a top priority of my Administration to 
                address the tragedy of veteran suicide, establishing 
                the President's Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a 
                National Tragedy of Suicide (PREVENTS). The PREVENTS 
                initiative will encourage a better understanding

[[Page 59708]]

                of veteran suicide and work across all levels of 
                government and the private sector to implement 
                strategies that will strengthen support networks for 
                veterans and their families.

                My Administration remains committed to providing our 
                veterans and their families with the financial 
                resources they have rightfully earned. Last year, we 
                secured $201.1 billion in funding for the Department of 
                Veterans Affairs (VA)--the most in the history of the 
                VA--including $8.6 billion to support mental health 
                services for veterans. Additionally, I recently 
                directed the Department of Education to discharge some 
                types of Federal student loans owed by totally and 
                permanently disabled veterans. This unprecedented 
                action lessens the financial burden for our seriously 
                wounded warriors who have sacrificed so much for our 
                country, and it underscores the appreciation and 
                undying loyalty of the American people.

                Each warrior who fights for our Nation, along with 
                their families, has earned our eternal gratitude, and I 
                ask that all Americans thank and support them. 
                Together, we remain committed to fostering a national 
                community of support for these brave heroes and their 
                families.

                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 proclaim November 2019 as 
                National Veterans and Military Families Month. I 
                encourage all communities, all sectors of society, and 
                all Americans to acknowledge and honor the service, 
                sacrifices, and contributions of veterans and military 
                families for what they have done and for what they do 
                every day to support our great Nation.

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

[FR Doc. 2019-24285
Filed 11-4-19; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F0-P