[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 146 (Wednesday, July 29, 2020)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 45745-45746]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-16593]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 146 / Wednesday, July 29, 2020 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 45745]]


                Proclamation 10059 of July 24, 2020

                
National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, 2020

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Sixty-seven years ago today, guns fell silent along the 
                Korean Demilitarized Zone after more than 3 years of 
                brutal fighting to defeat the expansion of communism on 
                the Korean Peninsula. On National Korean War Veterans 
                Armistice Day, we pause to remember the uncommon 
                courage and sacrifice of ordinary Americans who fought 
                to defend freedom and protect the values we hold dear.

                This year marks the 70th anniversary of the start of 
                the Korean War. When the conflict began, Americans were 
                still rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of World 
                War II, enjoying the blessings of peace and looking 
                toward a future filled with hope and prosperity. When 
                freedom and democracy were under threat on the Korean 
                Peninsula, however, 2 million Americans left their 
                homes, put on our Nation's uniform, and answered their 
                country's call to duty. Their resolve was tried and 
                tested in once obscure and unfamiliar places, such as 
                Pork Chop Hill, Heartbreak Ridge, Chipyong-ni, Pusan, 
                and the Chosin Reservoir, and in unnamed locations 
                known only by grid coordinates or hilltop elevations. 
                Alongside tens of thousands of coalition troops from 
                our allies around the world, these individuals fought, 
                bled, died, went missing, and suffered brutal captivity 
                to defeat a determined foe amid the harshest of 
                conditions, including sweltering heat, bone-numbing 
                cold, and deep snow that buried valleys and rugged 
                ridgelines. Their unquestioned valor, determination, 
                and patriotism halted communist aggression and restored 
                liberty and dignity for the South Korean people. In our 
                Nation's Capital, the black granite wall of the Korean 
                War Veterans Memorial stands as a testament to their 
                sacrifice, etched with the words ``Freedom is Not 
                Free.'' In total, more than 36,000 Americans gave their 
                lives in the Korean War, more than 103,000 were 
                wounded, and nearly 8,000 went missing in action.

                Today, the Republic of Korea, once decimated in the 
                aftermath of the war, is one of the world's most 
                vibrant, dynamic, and economically prosperous 
                democracies--and one of our strongest allies. Our Armed 
                Forces continue to proudly serve side-by-side with our 
                Korean military counterparts. This ironclad alliance, 
                forged in war and reinforced by a shared love of 
                liberty and deep ties of friendship, is vital to peace 
                and stability in both Asia and the world.

                As we commemorate the 67th anniversary of the Korean 
                War Armistice, we renew our commitment to the 
                principles of liberty for which our Korean War veterans 
                so valiantly fought. We are eternally grateful for the 
                families that endured the unimaginable sacrifices and 
                heartache of war, and we are thankful for all the men 
                and women who helped change the fate of a nation. The 
                38 months of bloody warfare represent the honorable 
                legacy of a selfless and courageous generation of 
                American patriots.

                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 July 27, 2020, as 
                National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day. I call upon 
                all Americans

[[Page 45746]]

                to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and 
                activities that honor and give thanks to our 
                distinguished Korean War Veterans.

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

[FR Doc. 2020-16593
Filed 7-28-20; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F0-P