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

 
PROCLAMATION 8895--NOV. 1, 2012

Proclamation 8895 of November 1, 2012

Military Family Month, 2012

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Since our Nation's earliest days, courageous men and women of all
backgrounds and beliefs have banded together to fight for the freedoms
we cherish. Behind each of them stands a parent, a sibling, a child, a
spouse--proud family members who share the weight of deployment and make
profound sacrifices on behalf of our country. During Military Family
Month, we honor our military families and recommit to showing them the
fullest care and respect of a grateful Nation.
In our military families, we see the best our country has to offer. They
demonstrate the virtues that have made America great for more than two
centuries and the values that will preserve our greatness for centuries
to come. With loved ones serving far from home, military spouses take on
the work of two. Their children show courage and resilience as they move
from base to base, school to school, home to home. And even through the
strain of deployment, military families strengthen the fabric of each
community they touch and enrich our national life as shining examples of
patriotism.
We each have a solemn duty to serve our Armed Forces and their families
as well as they serve us. Through First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill
Biden's Joining Forces initiative, we have worked to fulfill this
obligation by mobilizing all Americans to give service members and their
families the opportunities and support they have earned. Last year, we
challenged American businesses to hire or train 100,000 veterans and
military spouses by the end of 2013. To date, they have already exceeded
that challenge, hiring over 125,000 veterans and military spouses. From
helping military children succeed in the classroom to increasing support
for those who care for our wounded warriors, Joining Forces will keep
fighting to ensure the well-being of our troops and their families.
When a young woman signs up to defend our Nation, her parents are
enlisted as well. When a father deploys to a combat zone, his children
are called to serve on the home front. And when the men and women of our
military serve far from home, their families feel the strain of their
absence. In that absence, let us stand together as one American family.
Let us honor the brave patriots who keep our country safe, and let us
forever hold close the memories of those who have perished in the line
of duty. This month, we reaffirm that we will always lift up our
military families--not just when their loved ones are away, but also
long after the welcome home ceremonies are over.
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 Novem-

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ber 2012 as Military Family Month. I call on all Americans to honor military
families through private actions and public service for the tremendous
contributions they make in support of our service members and our
Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of
November, 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