[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 126, 112th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
PROCLAMATION 8837--JUNE 11, 2012

Proclamation 8837 of June 11, 2012

Flag Day and National Flag Week, 2012

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Ninety-six years ago, our Nation first came together to celebrate Flag
Day--an occasion when President Woodrow Wilson asked us to ``stand with
united hearts for an America which no man can corrupt, no influence draw
away from its ideals, no force divide against itself.'' This week, we
mark nearly one century since that historic proclamation, and more than
two centuries since the Second Continental Congress brought 13 United
States under a single standard.
For over 200 years, our flag has proudly represented our Nation and our
ideals at home and abroad. It has billowed above monuments and
memorials, flown beside the halls of government, stood watch over our
oldest institutions, and graced our homes and storefronts. Generations
of service members have raised our country's colors over military bases
and at sea, and generations of Americans have lowered them to mourn
those we have lost. Though our flag has changed to reflect the growth of
our Republic, it will forever remain an emblem of the ideals that
inspired our great Nation: liberty, democracy, and the enduring freedom
to make of our lives what we will.
As we reflect on our heritage, let us remember that our destiny is
stitched together like those 50 stars and 13 stripes. In red, white, and
blue, we see the spirit of a Nation, the resilience of our Union, and
the promise of a future forged in common purpose and dedication to the
principles that have always kept America strong.
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 ``National 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, 2012, as Flag Day and the week
beginning June 10, 2012, 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 cere-


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mony 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 twelve, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA