[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 122, 110th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

122 STAT. 5323
 
PROCLAMATION 8269--JUNE 6, 2008



Proclamation 8269 of June 6, 2008
Flag Day and National Flag Week, 2008
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
The American flag has been our national symbol for 231 years, and it
remains a beacon of freedom wherever it is flown. Since the Second
Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as our flag in 1777,
it has stood for freedom, justice, and the resolve of our Nation.
When Francis Scott Key saw the American flag flying over Fort McHenry in
1814, he believed that liberty would triumph. The flag that inspired Key
to write our National Anthem still energizes and emboldens the American
spirit today. As our Nation faces the challenges of a new era, Old Glory
reminds us that liberty can prevail over oppression.
Since the first days of our Republic, Americans have flown the flag to
show their pride and appreciation for the freedoms they enjoy in this
great Nation. Every day, Americans pledge their allegiance to the flag
of the United States, and our troops carry it before them as they defend
the liberties for which it stands.
On Flag Day and during National Flag Week, we remember those in uniform
whose courage and sacrifice inspire us here at home. We also remember
the rich history of one of our oldest national symbols and reflect on
our duty to carry our heritage of freedom into the future.
To commemorate the adoption of our flag, the Congress, by joint
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, 2008, as Flag Day and the week
beginning June 8, 2008, 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
appropriate 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 sixth day of June,
in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Inde




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122 STAT. 5324

pendence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
second.
GEORGE W. BUSH