[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 118, 108th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

Proclamation 7793 of June 5, 2004


 
National Child's Day, 2004


By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Children are a precious gift and a source of great hope for our future.
National Child's Day celebrates children and reminds us of the
importance of nurturing a child's personal development and providing a
safe environment in which to grow.
Children need our guidance and support. During this time in America's
history, teaching our children to love our Nation and its values remains
a critical responsibility. We need to help young people understand that
freedom is God's gift to every man and woman and that America's legacy
is one of ensuring liberty for all. Our children also need to know about
what other generations have done to build and preserve this great
country, including the service and sacrifice of the men and women who
have defended our Nation. To help prepare our next generation of leaders
to carry on America's tradition of freedom, my Administration has
launched the ``We the People''; initiative to improve the teaching of
history and civics in America's schools, along with the ``Our
Documents''; initiative to help make the treasures in our Nation's
archives more accessible to students and teachers.
Building a solid foundation of character education for our young people
helps to keep our country strong. We live by the immutable values that
families, schools, and religious congregations instill in us. To assist
these fundamental institutions as they shape generations of Americans,
my Administration is supporting Partnerships in Character Education,
which helps establish educational programs that focus on caring, civic
virtue, citizenship, justice, fairness, respect, responsibility, and
trustworthiness. It is essential to teach these morals with confidence
and conviction, as they will guide America's children through their
lives.

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118 STAT. 4142

Government cannot replace the love of a family in a child's life, but it
can help create an environment where children can grow into healthy,
responsible adults. My Administration has taken several steps to
strengthen education and promote the safety and well-being of America's
children. I signed the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 to transform
education and open the door of opportunity to all of our children. We
have also strengthened laws to protect children from criminals and
expanded the AMBER Alert system to help recover abducted children. And
because the decisions young people make now can affect their health and
character for the rest of their lives, my Administration is working to
send positive messages to children to help them make healthy lifestyle
choices, avoid the dangers of drug use, and to develop healthy eating
and exercise habits early in life.
On National Child's Day, we recognize the importance of working together
to create a society that is safe for our children, and we renew our
commitment to helping families build a bright future for young people
and our Nation.
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 6, 2004, as National
Child's Day. I urge all Americans to set a positive example for children
and to work to ensure that their communities are safe and supportive
places that help young people grow and reach their full potential. I
also call upon citizens to observe this day with appropriate programs,
ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of June,
in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and of the Independence of
the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-eighth.
GEORGE W. BUSH
PROCLAMATION 7794--JUNE 6, 2004