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

 
Proclamation 9660 of October 13, 2017

National Character Counts Week, 2017

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

We celebrate National Character Counts Week because few things are more
important than cultivating strong character in all our citizens,
especially our young people. The grit and integrity of our people,
visible throughout our history, defines the soul of our Nation. This
week, we reflect on the character of determination, resolve, and honor
that makes us proud to be American.
As President Reagan declared, ``There is no institution more vital to
our Nation's survival than the American family. Here the seeds of
personal character are planted, the roots of public virtue first
nourished.'' Character is built slowly. Our actions--often done first
out of duty--become habits ingrained in the way we treat others and
ourselves. As parents, educators, and civic and church leaders, we must
always work to cultivate strength of character in our Nation's youth.
Character can be hard to define, but we see it in every day acts--
raising and providing for a family with loving devotion, working hard to
make the most of an education, and giving back to devastated
communities. These and so many other acts big and small constitute the
moral fiber of American culture. Character is forged around kitchen
tables, built in civic organizations, and developed in houses of
worship. It is refined by our choices, large and small, and manifested
in what we do when we think no one is paying attention.

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As we strive every day to improve our character and that of our Nation,
we pause and thank those individuals whose strength of character has
inspired us and who have provided a supporting hand during times of
need. In particular, we applaud families as they perform the often
thankless task of raising men and women of character.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 15 through
October 21, 2017, as National Character Counts Week. I call upon public
officials, educators, parents, students, and all Americans to observe
this week with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand seventeen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
second.
DONALD J. TRUMP