[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 125, 112th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 8715 of September 16, 2011

National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Since September 11, 2001, the 9/11 Generation has borne the burden of
war with courage and valor, continuing the legacy of the brave men and
women who served before them. More than five million volunteers have
worn our country's uniform over the past 10 years, and thousands have
given their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. Making up nearly half of our
military power, the National Guard and Reserve are vital to our
operations at home and abroad.
During America's struggle for independence, ordinary individuals in
small towns across the colonies banded together to confront an empire.
Today, their spirit lives on in the Guard and Reserve. The members of
our National Guard and Reserve demonstrate the dignity and selflessness
that are at the core of the American spirit. These patriots serve not
only in combat, but also when disaster strikes at home, offering a
strong hand to victims of floods, tornadoes, and fires across America.
The employers who provide jobs to our Guard and Reserve members when
they are home are also vital to our success. Many of these businesses go
above and beyond, offering tremendous support to service members and
their families during deployments. We are deeply grateful for their
work, and this week, we celebrate not only our service members,
veterans, and military families, but also their devoted employers.

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The extraordinary service of our Guard and Reserve members would not be
possible without the unwavering support and care provided by their
families and civilian employers. To help connect our service members,
veterans, and their families to the opportunities they deserve, the
First Lady and Dr. Jill Biden announced Joining Forces, a comprehensive
national initiative to support and honor these patriots. As part of this
initiative, we issued a challenge to private sector employers to hire or
train 100,000 unemployed veterans or their spouses. We have also
proposed tax credits for businesses that hire our returning heroes--they
fought for our country, and the last thing they should have to do is
fight for a job when they come home.
This week, we remember our obligations to each other, and we pay tribute
to the employers of our Guardsmen and Reservists whose support and
flexibility is vital to the strength of our military. The United States
is at its strongest when we live up to our sacred duty to honor and care
for our service members when they come home. The support of employers
across our country reflects the best of the American spirit--the
understanding that we are bound together to serve and protect our
Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 18 through
September 24, 2011, as National Employer Support of the Guard and
Reserve Week. I call upon all Americans to join me in expressing our
heartfelt thanks to the members of the National Guard and Reserve and
their civilian employers. I also call on State and local officials,
private organizations, and all military commanders, to observe this week
with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of
September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA