    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 117, 108th Congress, 1st Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Proclamation 7683 of May 30, 2003

    National Child's Day, 2003

    By the President of the United States of America
    A Proclamation

    On National Child's Day, we celebrate the future of our Nation and the
    promise of America's youth. As a Nation, as parents, and as community
    members, we have a responsibility to build a secure and nurturing
    society so that our children have the opportunity to grow, learn, work,
    and succeed.
    Creating an environment that instills important values, builds strong
    character, and provides sound education for our children is a vital
    national priority. With a firm foundation, children will be better able
    to face the challenges of the future.
    Parents are a child's first teachers, and they can be the most effective
    instructors. One of the most helpful activities parents can do with
    their children is read with them. Children who develop a love for
    reading expand their imaginations and cultivate a thirst for learning
    that lasts a lifetime. By talking, listening, and reading to our
    children, we can help them build the confidence they need to succeed in
    life. Parents' role as educators becomes even more important as schools
    across the country prepare for summer recess. Summertime is not only a
    time for children to relax and play, it is also a time for parents to
    strengthen their ties to their children by spending time with them and
    helping them to broaden their experiences.
    To expand on the important work that parents do, my Administration has
    taken significant steps to help give our children greater opportunities
    to learn. By improving our education system and encouraging early
    reading and language skills, we give our children the tools they will

    [[Page 3052]]
    117 STAT. 3052

    need to succeed in the world they will inherit from us. Children also
    benefit from the immeasurable care and support of their teachers, and
    are inspired by the model they set.
    Outside the home and the classroom, there are many adults who touch
    children's lives. Family, mentors, neighbors, and friends can help mold
    America's next generation through their positive examples, showing
    children how to help those in need and encouraging them to set high
    standards for themselves. To help instill the value of volunteer
    service, the USA Freedom Corps, through the Students in Service to
    America initiative, is helping to create ways for young people to give
    back to their communities. By using their time, talents, and compassion
    to make a difference in the lives of others, America's children are
    learning to become responsible and engaged leaders in our democratic
    society.
    On this special day, we celebrate the possibility of every boy and girl
    in America. In their faces, we see the hope of our Nation. America is
    dedicated to their welfare and the full development of their potential.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of
    America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
    laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 1, 2003, as National
    Child's Day. I urge parents to spend more time with their children, read
    to them, listen to their concerns, offer guidance and love, and
    encourage their dreams. I also urge all Americans to set a positive
    example for our children and to assist parents in setting them on the
    path to success. And I call upon citizens to observe this day with
    appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of
    May, in the year of our Lord two thousand three, and of the Independence
    of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-seventh.
    GEORGE W. BUSH