[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 130, 114th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9399 of February 29, 2016

American Red Cross Month, 2016

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Over a century and a half ago, as gunfire echoed through America's skies
and division flared between North and South, a trailblazing woman, Clara
Barton, braved bullets and cannon fire to deliver much-needed care,
comfort, and supplies to wounded soldiers of the Civil War. Undaunted by
expectations of women at the time, Clara Barton persevered, as she had
her whole life, and strived to aid those who sacrificed to save our
Union. Determined that humanitarianism could thrive in peace as well as
in conflict, she carried her resolve overseas upon the war's end and was
introduced to a relief organization in Europe that inspired her to come
home to the United States and establish the American Red Cross.

Today, supporters, volunteers, and employees of the American Red Cross
reflect the best of our Nation's spirit--responding to tens of thousands
of tragedies here at home each year and bringing relief and assistance
to suffering individuals across the globe. In the last year, countless
people from the American Red Cross and many other service organizations
have served on the front lines of disaster and done the hard work of
improving our country and our world, never asking for credit or glory,
fame or fortune. From floods that ravaged the plains of the Midwest and
the coastlines of South Carolina, to wildfires that scorched California,
and an earthquake that devastated Nepal, the American Red Cross has
distributed almost one million relief items and provided tens of
millions of dollars in assistance to victims. And when an influx of
migrants from Syria stretched the capacities of countries around the
world, the American Red Cross deployed tens of thousands of volunteers
across the Atlantic to provide medical care and essential resources.
These selfless heroes inspire hope and offer help to those in need, and
as stalwarts in our communities, they build individual resilience and
safeguard our blood supply.
The spirit of resilience and service that drives our people in the wake
of tragedy is what makes us an anchor of global strength and stability.
When hardship strikes, countries around the world look to our Nation for
help, and the American Red Cross and similar organizations demonstrate
what is possible when compassionate people come together to uphold the
basic values that define America--that we are each other's keepers and
that we all must accept our obligations to one another. This month, let
us be guided by the truth that we all share a similar destiny, and let
us support organizations that work to lift up the lives of our planet's
most vulnerable people. Together, we can give everyone a place to turn
in times of crisis and uncertainty.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America and Honorary Chairman of the American Red Cross, by virtue of
the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim March 2016 as American Red Cross
Month. I encourage all Americans to observe this month with appropriate
programs, ceremonies, and activities, and by supporting the work of
service and relief organizations.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of
February, in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
fortieth.
BARACK OBAMA