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

 
PROCLAMATION 8864--SEPT. 14, 2012

Proclamation 8864 of September 14, 2012

National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week, 2012

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

During the 236 years since our fundamental rights to life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness were first put to paper, ordinary citizens have
always stood ready to defend them as members of the United States Armed
Forces. Today's service members represent the latest in the long line of
heroes who have answered their country's call, and their exceptional
service in a post-9/11 world has secured their place alongside the
greatest generations. As essential components of our military, the
National Guard and Reserve have helped carry that legacy forward. This
week, we honor their service and sacrifice, give thanks to their
employers, and reaffirm our commitment to giving our troops, our
military families, and our veterans the opportunities and support they
have earned.
Of the more than 2 million Americans who have gone to war since
September 11, 2001, many have been members of the Guard and Reserve.
Deployment after deployment, these men and women demonstrate the utmost
courage and distinction in the line of duty, putting themselves in
harm's way while knowing all too well the full cost of conflict. Members
of the Guard and Reserve also serve here at home, stepping in to keep
our communities safe when emergencies or natural disasters threaten our
security. For their extraordinary sacrifice, our Nation must serve them
as well as they have served us--from ensuring they have our fullest
support on the battlefield to helping them find good jobs when they come
home.
Businesses across America are helping us meet that obligation by hiring
and retaining members of the Guard and Reserve, and by creating a
culture of military support in the workplace. These employers help keep
our service members' civilian careers moving forward, and many
demonstrate their invaluable support by ensuring our men and women in
uniform--and their families--get the flexibility and care they need
during deployment. At a time when our Nation has asked so much of our
troops and military families, businesses nationwide are helping them
meet the challenges they face and defend the country they love.
America shares a sacred trust with all those who serve in our Armed
Forces, and my Administration remains committed to honoring that trust.
As part of First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden's Joining Forces
initiative, we have striven to expand employment opportunities for
veterans and military spouses, and to help workplaces create
environments that support military families. Within the past year, 2,000
companies have hired or trained more than 125,000 service members and
military spouses through Joining Forces. With tools like our online
Veterans Job Bank, we are connecting veterans to businesses that will
put their skills to work. I was proud to sign the VOW to Hire Heroes
Act, which created new tax credits to encourage employers to hire
veterans. And this July, we announced an overhaul of our transition
assistance program that will give departing service members the training
they need to find their next job or advance their education and skills.


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During National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week, let us
pay tribute to the brave men and women who keep our Nation safe and
celebrate their devoted employers, whose support is vital to the
strength of our military.
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 16 through
September 22, 2012, 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 fourteenth day of
September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
seventh.
BARACK OBAMA