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

 
Proclamation 9502 of September 23, 2016

Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day, 2016

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Since our Nation's founding, in peace and in war, the values that define
our brave men and women in uniform have remained constant: honor,
courage, and selflessness. From the deafening sounds of combat to the
silence of the sacred hills at Arlington, we remember the countless
sacrifices our service members make to preserve the freedoms we too
often take for granted. No one understands the true price of these
freedoms like our Gold Star families, whose humility, even in times of
grief, represents the best of our country. Today, we recognize their
sacrifices by listening to their stories, sharing in their pain and
pride, and pledging to do all we can to honor them and the loved ones
they hold close in their hearts.
Through unspeakable sorrow, our Gold Star families suffer from loss that
can never be restored--pain that can never truly be healed. It is
because of their selfless character and unfailing grace that Americans
can come home each day, gather with family and friends, and live in
peace and security. And though the debt our fallen soldiers and their
families pay is one we can never fully pay back, we must continue to
support our veterans when they come home and stand by our military
families who endure unthinkable loss. We must maintain the sacred
covenant we share with our veterans by ensuring they have the care and
benefits they deserve, and as citizens, we must all work to lift each
other up in a manner that is worthy of those who laid down their lives
to protect the land and freedoms we cherish.
Less than one percent of our Nation wear the uniform, but all of us have
an obligation to acknowledge the losses endured by Gold Star Mothers and
Families and to fill the painful absence of their loved ones with our
profound gratitude. We must strive to support these families--not just
with words, but with actions--by being there every day for the parents,
spouses, and children who feel the weight of their loss. On this day of
remembrance, may we carry forward the work of those who gave their last
full measure of devotion and vow to keep their memories burning bright
in our hearts. And may we lift up their families, who have steadfastly
supported their mission through immeasurable heartbreak, by remaining a
Nation worthy of their sacrifice.
The Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 115 of June 23, 1936 (49 Stat.
1985 as amended), has designated the last Sunday in September as ``Gold
Star Mother's Day.''
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Con

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stitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim
September 25, 2016, as Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day. I call upon
all Government officials to display the flag of the United States over
Government buildings on this special day. I also encourage the American
people to display the flag and hold appropriate ceremonies as a public
expression of our Nation's gratitude and respect for our Gold Star
Mothers and Families.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-third day of
September, in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
first.
BARACK OBAMA