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

    Proclamation 9895 of May 20, 2019

    National Maritime Day, 2019

    By the President of the United States of America

    A Proclamation

    On National Maritime Day, we honor the men and women who, throughout our
    history, have served with professionalism, dedication, and patriotism in
    the United States Merchant Marine. We recognize these seafaring merchant
    mariners for helping to fuel our economy, maintain our sea power, and
    support our national security.
    Merchant mariners extend goodwill into all parts of the world, serving
    as a peaceful United States presence on international waterways. Today,
    American mariners facilitate the import and export of billions of
    dollars of goods, including fuel, agricultural products, and raw
    materials through the Marine Transportation System. They are also among
    the first to respond to help their fellow citizens in the wake of
    national disasters.
    During times of war, merchant mariners courageously sail into combat
    zones to provide sealift for the Department of Defense, carrying weap

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    ons and supplies to America's fighting forces. In every conflict, United
    States citizen mariners have answered the call to duty and risked their
    lives. Some have sadly made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
    Because the United States Merchant Marine plays a central role in
    bringing American goods to market and in bolstering our military
    readiness abroad, we must encourage more people to pursue career
    opportunities on America's waterways and the oceans of the world. For
    this reason, I recently signed an Executive Order to help veterans of
    the Armed Forces transition seamlessly into civilian careers in the
    United States Merchant Marine by allowing them to apply relevant
    military training and experience toward becoming credentialed merchant
    mariners. This will help support a robust, well-equipped, and safe
    merchant fleet crewed by well-trained mariners.
    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.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of
    America, do hereby proclaim May 22, 2019, 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 twentieth 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