[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