    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 133, 116th Congress, 1st Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Proclamation 9896 of May 24, 2019

    Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day, 2019

    By the President of the United States of America

    A Proclamation

    Whether on the battlefields of Bunker Hill, on the beaches of Normandy,
    in the jungles of Vietnam, or in the mountains and deserts of the Middle
    East, brave Americans of every generation have given their last full
    measure of devotion in defense of our country, our liberty, and our
    founding ideals. On Memorial Day, we humbly honor these incredible
    patriots and firmly renew our abiding commitment to uphold the
    principles for which they laid down their lives.
    As a free people, we have a sacred duty to remember the courageous
    warriors who have made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that our great
    country would endure. It is our responsibility to strive to ensure that
    their noble acts of dedication to our country and the cause of freedom
    were not in vain and to comfort the families they have left behind, who
    bear the heartbreak of their loss. We must ensure that the light

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    of our Republic, and all for which these most honorable Americans
    willingly died, continues to shine forth brightly into the world. As
    President Lincoln said in 1863 during the dedication of the Gettysburg
    National Military Cemetery: ``It is for us the living, rather, to be
    dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have
    thus far so nobly advanced.''
    As we approach the 75th anniversary of D-Day, we proudly commemorate
    those heroic and honorable patriots who gave their all for the cause of
    freedom during some of history's darkest hours. Thousands of selfless
    members of our Armed Forces perished on the beaches of Normandy. They
    bravely gave their lives to pave the way for the Allied liberation of
    Europe and ultimately victory over the forces of evil. Their historic
    sacrifices and achievements secured the future of humanity and proved
    America's strength in defending freedom and defeating the enemies of
    civilization.
    Those who rest in the hallowed grounds of our country's national
    cemeteries laid their lives upon the altar of freedom. Today, as we
    unite in eternal gratitude for the sacrifices of these extraordinary
    Americans, let us also offer a prayer for lasting peace. Let us renew
    our steadfast resolve to work toward a peaceful future, in which the
    horrors of war are a distant memory and our families, our communities,
    and our Nation need no longer confront the sorrow and pain of losing our
    beloved sons and daughters.
    In honor and recognition of all of our fallen heroes, the Congress, by a
    joint resolution approved May 11, 1950, as amended (36 U.S.C. 116), has
    requested the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of
    the United States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for
    permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people of
    the United States might unite in prayer. The Congress, by Public Law
    106-579, has also designated 3:00 p.m. local time on that day as a time
    for all Americans to observe, in their own way, the National Moment of
    Remembrance.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of
    America, do hereby proclaim Memorial Day, May 27, 2019, as a day of
    prayer for permanent peace, and I designate the hour beginning in each
    locality at 11:00 a.m. of that day as a time when people might unite in
    prayer.
    I further ask all Americans to observe the National Moment of
    Remembrance beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day.
    I also request the Governors of the United States and its Territories,
    and the appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct the
    flag be flown at half-staff until noon on this Memorial Day on all
    buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States and
    in all areas under its jurisdiction and control. I also request the
    people of the United States to display the flag at half-staff from their
    homes for the customary forenoon period.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fourth day
    of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand nineteen, and of the
    Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
    third.
    DONALD J. TRUMP