[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 30, Number 41 (Monday, October 17, 1994)]
[Pages 1981-1982]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 6734--National Children's Day, 1994

October 7, 1994

By the President of the United States

of America

A Proclamation

    With every baby born in America, our Nation reaffirms its hope for 
the future. As parents and care givers, our responsibility is clear. Our 
most solemn obligation to our children cannot be merely that we hold a 
torch to guide their way around every dark and treacherous corner. 
Rather, we must strive to kindle a spark within each child--a spark that 
will become the flame of knowledge and imagination, the fire of justice 
and compassion. This is a task for which humanity has great experience 
and for which humans have little preparation. But in this task our 
Nation must succeed. So that when our children look to a future that 
seems, for many, clouded and uncertain, they have the power within 
themselves to light the way for all of us.
    One of the most important steps in meeting that crucial challenge is 
providing for the health and safety of our children as they grow. That 
homicide and suicide are the leading causes of death among our youth is 
a national tragedy. We have enacted legislation that expands and 
improves the Head Start program, providing health, education, and social 
services for children of low-income families. America's new Childhood 
Immunization Initiative will help to vaccinate at least 90 percent of 
our Nation's infants--the most sweeping effort of its kind in American 
history. Our new crime bill supports programs that encourage youth to 
escape the destructive confines of gangs, and it goes a long way toward 
keeping guns out of the hands of juveniles.
    But no government program will be truly effective without the caring 
involvement of every one of our citizens. Parents and siblings, teachers 
and neighbors--all of us must work to instill a sense of self and a 
sense of purpose in the lives of our youth. Children are our hope and 
our inspiration. For every finger painting that graces our kitchen 
walls, for every ball game that fills our streets and playgrounds with 
laughter, we join today in celebrating the many blessings our children 
bring.
    The Congress, by House Joint Resolution 389, has designated the 
second Sunday in October as ``National Children's Day'' and has 
authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in 
observance of this day.
    Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, President of the United 
States of America, do hereby proclaim October 9, 1994, as National 
Children's Day. I call upon all Americans to express their appreciation 
and their love, on this day and every day, for all of our Nation's 
children. I invite Federal officials, local government, and families 
across the land to join together in observing this day with appropriate 
ceremonies and activities.

[[Page 1982]]

    In Witness Whereof, I have here unto set my hand this seventh day of 
October, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-four, and 
of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and 
nineteenth.
                                            William J. Clinton

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 4:38 p.m., October 11, 
1994]

Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on October 
13. This item was not received in time for publication in the 
appropriate issue.