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

 
Proclamation 9881 of May 9, 2019

Military Spouse Day, 2019

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Military spouses share an admirable legacy of unwavering devotion to
their loved ones in uniform and to the cause of freedom. Wives and
husbands stand faithfully beside their beloved service members and play
a critical role in their ability to safeguard our country. They shoulder
tremendous burdens and responsibilities and face demands that most
families will never endure. Military spouses earn no rank or
compensation, yet their contributions to our military might are
invaluable. On Military Spouse Day, we honor our Nation's military
spouses and express our deep appreciation for all that they do.
The nomadic nature of military life places tremendous pressure on
military families. Frequent relocations, which require leaving behind
the familiar--home, school, work, church, and friends--are commonplace.
Military spouses nevertheless find ways to improve their communities, on
and off the base, and to thrive in spite of the numerous hardships.
Military spouses also demonstrate sacrificial love and provide essential
support and encouragement to their service members during deployments.
They comfort fearful and anxious children, balance work and school
demands, and keep things going on the home front with uncommon grace and
resourcefulness, despite the loneliness and anxiety that often accompany
an extended absence.
Frequent relocation also imposes substantial economic costs on our
military families. For example, it results in unemployment and
underemployment of military spouses. My Administration, therefore, is
committed to enhancing opportunities for our Nation's military spouses.
Last year, I was pleased to sign an Executive Order requiring Federal
agencies to promote the use of existing military spouse noncompetitive
hiring authority to the greatest extent possible, providing
significantly greater opportunity for military spouses to be considered
for Government positions. The Department of Defense's Military Spouse
Employment Partnership has brought together more than 390 companies and
organizations committed to recruiting, hiring, promoting, and retaining
military spouses. Since the initiative's inception in 2011, these
devoted partners have hired more than 130,000 military spouses.
Employers who hire these spouses benefit from the tremendous talent,
breadth of experience, and determination these men and women have
learned from navigating the demands of military life.
I encourage all who enjoy the blessings of freedom--preserved and
defended by our Nation's military and their families--to find ways to
support our incredible military spouses. I applaud local government
officials who have helped advance workforce freedom and mobility for
military families. I encourage States and occupational licensing boards

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to build on these efforts and do more to improve license portability,
removing barriers to military spouses remaining in the workforce
following a change in duty station. Community leaders can also raise
awareness about programs like Military OneSource, a one-stop resource
for information, support, and referrals on every aspect of military
life. And in neighborhoods nationwide, families can reach out, in word
and deed, to spouses who are working to meet the unique challenges of
military life.
Military spouses are among our country's unsung heroes and are at the
heart of our Armed Forces. They embody strength and resilience, and
represent the best of American patriotism, courage, character, and
pride. As a Nation, we must ensure our military spouses receive the
unparalleled and unwavering support they deserve. On this Military
Spouse Day, Melania and I salute the extraordinary women and men who
serve as military spouses and offer our prayers, respect, and gratitude
on behalf of a grateful Nation.
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 May 10, 2019, as
Military Spouse Day. I call upon the people of the United States to
honor military spouses with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth 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