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

 
PROCLAMATION 8985--MAY 21, 2013

Proclamation 8985 of May 21, 2013

National Maritime Day, 2013
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Through every chapter of the American story, ordinary men and women have
accomplished extraordinary things as members of the United States
Merchant Marine. When the idea of America depended on the success of a
revolution, mariners took on the world's most powerful navy and helped
secure our future as a sovereign Nation. In the decades since, they have
sustained critical supply lines for our troops abroad--at times enduring
profound losses to keep our sea lanes open. And through war and peace
alike, the Merchant Marine has driven our economic growth by shipping
our products all around the world. On National Maritime Day, we honor
the generations of mariners who have served and sacrificed to make our
country what it is today.
To keep America moving forward in the 21st century, we need to expand
trade and commerce that creates good jobs for our people. Businesses in
every corner of our country are stepping up to meet that challenge,
ramping up manufacturing and selling more goods and services overseas.
As they do, our Merchant Marine is making sure our products get wherever
they need to go--from ports here at home to new markets halfway across
the globe. Their work is essential to growing our economy, and my
Administration remains committed to getting our mariners the support
they need to carry out their mission.
Whether equipping our service members in the theater of war or guiding
our maritime industry in the calm of peace, the United States Merchant
Marine has helped keep America strong for more than two cen-



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turies. Let
us mark this day by reflecting on that legacy of service, honoring the
men and women who forged it, and saluting the proud mariners who carry
it forward today.
The Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 20, 1933, has
designated May 22 of each year as ``National Maritime Day,'' and has
authorized and requested the President to issue annually a proclamation
calling for its appropriate observance.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim May 22, 2013, as National Maritime Day. I
call upon the people of the United States to mark this observance and to
display the flag of the United States at their homes and in their
communities. I also request that all ships sailing under the American
flag dress ship on that day.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first 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