[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 127, 113th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
PROCLAMATION 8973--APR. 30, 2013

Proclamation 8973 of April 30, 2013

Loyalty Day, 2013
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
In the centuries since America broke from an empire and claimed
independence, our people have come together again and again to meet the
challenges of a changing world. We have reinvented our cities with
advances in science and reformed our markets with new understanding of
the forces that guide them. We have fought for freedom in the theater of
war and expanded its reach during times of peace. We have revamped and
recovered and remade ourselves anew, mindful that when times change, so
must we. But with every step forward, we have reaffirmed our faith in
the ideals that inspired our founding. We have held fast to the
principles at our country's core: service and citizenship; courage and
the common good; liberty, equality, and justice for all.
This is our Nation's heritage, and it is what we remember on Loyalty
Day. It is an occasion that asks something of us as a people: to
rediscover those ageless truths our Founders held to be self-evident,
and to renew them in our own time. We look back to Americans who did the
same, from generation to generation--citizens who strengthened our
democracy, organizers who made it broader, service members who gave
everything to protect it. These patriots and pioneers remind us that
while our path to a more perfect Union is unending, with hope and hard
work, we can move forward together.
Today, we rededicate ourselves to that enduring task. We do so knowing
our journey is not complete until the promises of our founding documents
are made real for every American, regardless of their station in life or
the circumstances of their birth. Progress may come slow; the road may
be long. But as loyal citizens of these United States, we have the power
to set our country's course. Let us mark this day by pressing on in the
march toward lasting freedom and true equality, grateful for the
precious rights and responsibilities entrusted to each of us by our
forebears.
In order to recognize the American spirit of loyalty and the sacrifices
that so many have made for our Nation, the Congress, by Public Law 85-
529 as amended, has designated May 1 of each year as ``Loyalty Day.'' On
this day, let us reaffirm our allegiance to the United States of
America, our Constitution, and our founding values.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim May 1, 2013, as Loyalty Day. This Loyalty
Day, I call upon all the people of the United States to join in support
of this national observance, whether by displaying the flag of the
United States or pledging allegiance to the Republic for which it
stands.


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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of
April, in the year of our Lord two thousand thirteen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
seventh.
BARACK OBAMA