[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 131, 115th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9616 of May 19, 2017

National Maritime Day, 2017

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

On National Maritime Day, we recognize the important role the United
States Merchant Marine plays in supporting our commerce and national
security. We honor the proud history of our merchant mariners and their
important contributions in strengthening our economy.
Americans have long looked to the sea as a source of safety and well-
being. Bounded by two oceans and the Gulf of Mexico, and crisscrossed by
inland waterways, America was destined to be a maritime nation. Our
fledgling Republic expanded and became stronger, as our Nation's growing
Merchant Marine connected the States and cemented ties among our new
allies.
Today, the men and women who crew ships remain essential to our Nation's
prosperity and security. Those in the maritime industry, including
merchant mariners, promote our economic growth, facilitating the export
of more than $475 billion in goods just last year and sustaining our
critical defense industrial base. Merchant mariners also actively
protect our homeland, serving as our eyes and ears on the seas. They
serve with distinction and courage, heading into war zones, and too
often sacrificing their own lives for our protection.
The Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 20, 1933, has
designated May 22 of each year as ``National Maritime Day,'' to
commemorate the first transoceanic voyage by a steamship, in 1819 by the
S.S. Savannah. By this resolution, the Congress has authorized and
requested the President to issue annually a proclamation calling for its
appropriate observance.

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NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim May 22, 2017, 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 nineteenth day of
May, in the year of our Lord two thousand seventeen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
first.
DONALD J. TRUMP