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

Proclamation 7796 of June 12, 2004


 
Flag Day and National Flag Week, 2004


By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

For more than 200 years, the American flag has served as a symbol of our
country's enduring freedom and unity. Old Glory has welcomed generations
of immigrants to America's shores and is displayed proudly on homes, at
schools, and over businesses across our country. During times of war,
our flag has rallied our citizens to defend the blessings of liberty at
home and abroad. It has accompanied our troops into battle and been
given to grieving families at the grave sites of fallen heroes. Today,
as our brave men and women in uniform fight terrorism and advance
freedom, the flag inspires patriotism and pride across our Nation and
around the world.
Each year on June 14, we honor the American flag and recall the adoption
of our first official national flag by the Continental Congress in 1777.
The first Flag Day observances began quietly in the 19th century as
State and local celebrations recognizing the anniversary of the Stars
and Stripes. Inspired by these patriotic gatherings, President Woodrow
Wilson established the first national observance by proclamation in
1916. To commemorate the adoption of our flag, the Congress, by joint

[[Page 4145]]

118 STAT. 4145

resolution approved August 3, 1949, as amended (63 Stat. 492),
designated June 14 of each year as ``Flag Day''; and requested that the
President issue an annual proclamation calling for its observance and
for the display of the Flag of the United States on all Federal
Government buildings. The Congress also requested, by joint resolution
approved June 9, 1966, as amended (80 Stat. 194), that the President
issue annually a proclamation designating the week in which June 14
occurs as ``National Flag Week''; and calling upon all citizens of the
United States to display the flag during that week.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim June 14, 2004, as Flag Day and the week
beginning June 13, 2004, as National Flag Week. I direct the appropriate
officials to display the flag on all Federal Government buildings during
that week, and I urge all Americans to observe Flag Day and National
Flag Week by flying the Stars and Stripes from their homes and other
suitable places. I also call upon the people of the United States to
observe with pride and all due ceremony those days from Flag Day through
Independence Day, also set aside by the Congress (89 Stat. 211), as a
time to honor America, to celebrate our heritage in public gatherings
and activities, and to publicly recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the
Flag of the United States of America.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth 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 7797--JUNE 19, 2004