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

 
Proclamation 9551 of December 6, 2016

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, 2016

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Seventy-five years ago, Japanese fighter planes attacked the United
States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, destroying much of our Pacific Fleet
and killing more than 2,400 Americans. The following day, President
Franklin D. Roosevelt called on the Congress to declare war and ``make
it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger
us.'' In that spirit, Americans came together to pay tribute to the
victims, support the survivors, and shed the comforts of civilian life
to serve in our military and fight for our Union. Each year on National
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, we honor those whose lives were for

[[Page 3432]]

ever changed that December morning and resolve to uphold the legacy of
all who stepped forward in our time of need.
From the docks of Pearl Harbor to the beaches of Normandy and far around
the world, brave patriots served their country and defended the values
that have sustained our Nation since its founding. They went to war for
liberty and sacrificed more than most of us will ever know; they chased
victory and defeated fascism, turning adversaries into allies and
writing a new chapter in our history. Through their service and
unparalleled devotion, they inspired a generation with their refusal to
give in despite overwhelming odds. And as we reflect on the profound
debt of gratitude we owe them for the freedoms we cherish, we are
reminded of the everlasting responsibilities we have to one another and
to our country.
In memory of all who lost their lives on December 7, 1941--and those who
responded by leaving their homes for the battlefields--we must ensure
the sacrifices they made in the name of liberty and democracy were not
made in vain. On this solemn anniversary, there can be no higher tribute
to these American patriots than forging a united commitment to honor our
troops and veterans, give them the support and care they deserve, and
carry on their work of keeping our country strong and free.
The Congress, by Public Law 103-308, as amended, has designated December
7 of each year as ``National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.''
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim December 7, 2016, as National Pearl Harbor
Remembrance Day. I encourage all Americans to observe this solemn day of
remembrance and to honor our military, past and present, with
appropriate ceremonies and activities. I urge all Federal agencies and
interested organizations, groups, and individuals to fly the flag of the
United States at half-staff this December 7 in honor of those American
patriots who died as a result of their service at Pearl Harbor.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of
December, 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