[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 196 (Thursday, October 14, 2021)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 57007-57008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-22514]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 196 / Thursday, October 14, 2021 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 57007]]


                Proclamation 10281 of October 8, 2021

                
Columbus Day, 2021

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                More than 500 years ago, after securing the support of 
                Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand II, Christopher 
                Columbus launched the Ni[ntilde]a, the Pinta, and the 
                Santa Maria from the coast of Spain in 1492. While he 
                intended to end his quest in Asia, his 10-week journey 
                instead landed him on the shores of the Bahamas, making 
                Columbus the first of many Italian explorers to arrive 
                in what would later become known as the Americas.

                Many Italians would follow his path in the centuries to 
                come, risking poverty, starvation, and death in pursuit 
                of a better life. Today, millions of Italian Americans 
                continue to enrich our country's traditions and culture 
                and make lasting contributions to our Nation--they are 
                educators, health care workers, scientists, first 
                responders, military service members, and public 
                servants, among so many other vital roles.

                Today, we also acknowledge the painful history of 
                wrongs and atrocities that many European explorers 
                inflicted on Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities. 
                It is a measure of our greatness as a Nation that we do 
                not seek to bury these shameful episodes of our past--
                that we face them honestly, we bring them to the light, 
                and we do all we can to address them. For Native 
                Americans, western exploration ushered in a wave of 
                devastation: violence perpetrated against Native 
                communities, displacement and theft of Tribal 
                homelands, the introduction and spread of disease, and 
                more. On this day, we recognize this painful past and 
                recommit ourselves to investing in Native communities, 
                upholding our solemn and sacred commitments to Tribal 
                sovereignty, and pursuing a brighter future centered on 
                dignity, respect, justice, and opportunity for all 
                people.

                In commemoration of Christopher Columbus's historic 
                voyage 529 years ago, the Congress, by joint resolution 
                of April 30, 1934, and modified in 1968 (36 U.S.C. 
                107), as amended, has requested the President proclaim 
                the second Monday of October of each year as ``Columbus 
                Day.'' Today, let this day be one of reflection--on 
                America's spirit of exploration, on the courage and 
                contributions of Italian Americans throughout the 
                generations, on the dignity and resilience of Tribal 
                Nations and Indigenous communities, and on the work 
                that remains ahead of us to fulfill the promise of our 
                Nation for all.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of 
                the United States of America, do hereby proclaim 
                October 11, 2021, as Columbus Day. I direct that the 
                flag of the United States be displayed on all public 
                buildings on the appointed day in honor of our diverse 
                history and all who have contributed to shaping this 
                Nation.

[[Page 57008]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                eighth day of October, 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-
                sixth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2021-22514
Filed 10-13-21; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F2-P