[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 5, 2021)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 23861-23862]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-09595]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 85 / Wednesday, May 5, 2021 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 23861]]


                Proclamation 10198 of April 30, 2021

                
Loyalty Day, 2021

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                On Loyalty Day, we celebrate our allegiance to the 
                project of this great Nation and the democratic ideals 
                woven into the fabric of our Constitution. As 
                Americans, we do not command loyalty, but seek to earn 
                it through our actions--including by living up to the 
                principles enshrined in our Constitution and respecting 
                the will of the people as reflected in the democratic 
                process. Drawn together by the promise of equality, 
                freedom, and justice, we are a Nation of shared ideals 
                and strong, resilient people. Here in America, loyalty 
                does not mean fealty to any one leader or political 
                party, nor does it mean unthinking praise or willful 
                ignorance of our shortcomings--it means loyalty to our 
                common ideals, and to one another. It means standing 
                united as one people, even as we cherish our 
                differences and respect dissent.

                Our country is a diverse tapestry of many cultures, 
                heritages, religions, and languages, brought together 
                around the values and ideals we all share as Americans. 
                Together, we celebrate our differences and draw 
                strength from our common commitment to perfecting our 
                Union. No matter what challenges come our way, our 
                Nation holds strong together--bound by our Constitution 
                and the rule of law, uplifted by individual liberties 
                and promises of justice we have worked hard in each 
                generation to secure and expand, and consecrated by 
                those who have sacrificed to preserve, defend, and care 
                for our Nation.

                We see loyalty in the members of our Armed Forces, who 
                selflessly serve in harm's way; in their families, who, 
                in the timeless words of the poet John Milton, ``also 
                serve who only stand and wait;'' in our educators, who 
                dedicate their lives to nurturing young minds; in our 
                first responders, who put their lives on the line to 
                save others; in all those who have the courage to call 
                out our Nation's imperfections when we fall short, and 
                who continue to push our society to live up to its 
                founding promise of freedom, justice, and equality for 
                all. May 1 is also International Workers' Day, and we 
                honor the workers whose service and sacrifice has 
                helped turn the tide against the COVID-19 pandemic. On 
                this day, we show our gratitude to our essential 
                workers--and to all of the workers who have organized 
                and fought to improve our Nation and create a fairer 
                and more just society for all.

                To acknowledge the American ethos of patriotism and the 
                sacrifices so many of our fellow citizens have made, 
                the Congress, by Public Law 85-529, as amended, has 
                designated the 1st day of May each year as Loyalty Day. 
                On this day, let us reaffirm our commitment to the 
                values that bind us together and honor all those who 
                have defended our freedom.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of 
                the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 1, 
                2021, as Loyalty Day. This Loyalty Day, I call upon the 
                people of the United States to join in this national 
                observance, display the United States flag and pledge 
                allegiance to the Republic for which it stands.

[[Page 23862]]

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

[FR Doc. 2021-09595
Filed 5-4-21; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3295-F1-P