[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 124, 111th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
PROCLAMATION 8535--JUNE 11, 2010

Proclamation 8535 of June 11, 2010
Flag Day and National Flag Week, 2010
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation

When the Second Continental Congress adopted the American flag on June
14, 1777, the thirteen stripes alternating red and white, and thirteen
white stars in a blue field, represented ``a new constellation.'' On
Flag Day, and throughout National Flag Week, we celebrate its lasting
luminosity, and the enduring American story that it represents.
Although the configuration of stars and stripes has changed over the
years it has been flown, its significance and symbolism have not
wavered. The flag that once helped unite a new Nation to confront
tyranny and oppression still flies today as an unequivocal emblem of
freedom and liberty. The same flag that has been raised on beaches and
battlefields still adorns the uniforms of our heroic sons and daughters
serving in America's Armed Forces, including our troops serving in
harm's way in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This past year, that same flag has continued to soar. When our American
Olympic and Paralympics athletes were positioned triumphantly on the
podiums of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, our
majestic flag flew high above them. From homes to classrooms, civic
gatherings to private memorials, we gathered to salute our flag, and in
doing so, renewed the eternal promise of this glorious Nation.
More than 220 years after Old Glory was first embraced by our Founders,
the Stars and Stripes remain the symbol of our Nation's pride. On Flag
Day and during National Flag Week we recognize the American flag as a
symbol of hope and inspiration to people at home and around the world--
as a constellation which grows brighter with every achievement earned
and sacrifice borne by one of our citizens.
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
annually issue a proclamation designating the week in which June 14
occurs as ``Na-

[[Page 4651]]

tional Flag Week'' and call upon citizens of the United States to
display the flag during that week.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim June 14, 2010, as Flag Day and the week
beginning June 13, 2010, 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 displaying the flag. 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 eleventh day of
June, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence
of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
BARACK OBAMA