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

 
PROCLAMATION 8984--MAY 17, 2013

Proclamation 8984 of May 17, 2013

Armed Forces Day, 2013
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Since the earliest days of our Union, America has been blessed with an
unbroken chain of patriots willing to give of themselves so their fellow
citizens might live free. Whenever our Nation has come under attack,
courageous men and women in uniform have risen to her defense. Whenever
our liberties have come under assault, our service members have
responded with resolve. Time and again, these heroes have sacrificed to
sustain that powerful promise that we hold so dear--life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness. And on Armed Forces Day, we honor those who
serve bravely and sacrifice selflessly in our name.
Our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen represent
the best of the American character. They serve with integrity and do
whatever the country they love asks of them, choosing flag over fortune
and service over self-interest. Year after year, tour after tour, their
dedication to protecting us at home and preserving our ideals never
wavers; their commitment to each other never falters. They are the few
who carry the remarkable weight of our entire Nation, and in their
example we see why America is and always will be the greatest country on
Earth.
Today, we pause to express our gratitude, mindful that words and
ceremonies are not enough and that our thanks extend not only to those
in uniform, but also to the families who serve alongside them. We are
bound by a sacred obligation to ensure our service members and their
loved ones have the resources and benefits they have earned and deserve,
and only when we uphold this trust do we truly show our appreciation for
our Armed Forces.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United
States, continuing the precedent of my predecessors in office, do hereby
proclaim the third Saturday of each May as Armed Forces Day.
I direct the Secretary of Defense on behalf of the Army, Navy, Air
Force, and Marine Corps, and the Secretary of Homeland Security on
behalf of the Coast Guard, to plan for appropriate observances each




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year, with the Secretary of Defense responsible for encouraging the
participation and cooperation of civil authorities and private citizens.
I invite the Governors of the States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
and other areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, to
provide for the observance of Armed Forces Day within their jurisdiction
each year in an appropriate manner designed to increase public
understanding and appreciation of the Armed Forces of the United States.
I also invite veterans, civic leaders, and organizations to join in the
observance of Armed Forces Day.
Finally, I call upon all Americans to display the flag of the United
States at their homes on Armed Forces Day, and I urge citizens to learn
more about military service by attending and participating in the local
observances of the day. I also encourage Americans to volunteer at
organizations that provide support to our troops.
Proclamation 8823 of May 18, 2012, is hereby superseded.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of
May, 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