[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000-2001, Book III)]
[December 28, 2000]
[Pages 2811-2812]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Signing the National Moment of Remembrance Act
December 28, 2000

    Today I am pleased to sign S. 3181, the ``National Moment of 
Remembrance Act,'' which designates 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day 
each year as the National Moment of Remembrance, in honor of the men and 
women of the United States who died in the pursuit of freedom and peace. 
The Act also establishes a White House Commission on the National Moment 
of Remembrance, to coordinate and encourage commemorative events on 
Memorial Day each year, and a Remembrance Alliance, to assist the 
Commission in promoting the observance of the Memorial Day holiday and 
organizing an annual White House Conference on the National Moment of 
Remembrance.
    Each Memorial Day, the Nation honors those Americans who died while 
defending our Nation and its values. While these heroes should be 
honored every day for their profound contribution to securing our 
Nation's freedom, they and their families should be especially honored 
on Memorial Day. The observance of a National Moment of Remembrance is a 
simple and unifying way to commemorate our history and honor the 
struggle to protect our freedoms.
    This Act recognizes in law a commemoration begun on Memorial Day in 
May 1997, when ``Taps'' was played at 3:00 p.m. on many radio and 
television stations across the Nation as Americans paused to remember 
the men and women who have lost their lives in service to

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our country. This past May, both a Congressional Resolution and a 
Presidential Proclamation called for the observance of a National Moment 
of Remembrance. It is my hope that the establishment of the National 
Moment of Remembrance in law, along with the creation of the White House 
Commission, will promote greater understanding of the meaning of the 
Memorial Day holiday for all Americans.
    In signing this Act, I note that the Appointments Clause of the 
Constitution requires that all Federal officers exercising executive 
authority be appointed in conformity with that Clause. Because the 
Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution--who would be a member of the 
Commission--is not so appointed, he may not exercise significant 
governmental authority on the Commission but may directly participate in 
the ceremonial or advisory functions of the Commission. Moreover, 
because the members of the Remembrance Alliance are not appointed in 
conformity with the Appointments Clause, they must remain under the 
supervision of the Commission, and I interpret the Act to establish such 
a relationship between the two bodies.

                                                      William J. Clinton

 The White House,

 December 28, 2000.

  Note:  S. 3181, approved December 28, was assigned Public Law No. 106-
579. This statement was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
December 29.