[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 18 (Monday, May 8, 2000)]
[Page 959]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7300--Loyalty Day, 2000

 April 29, 2000

By the President of the United States

of America

 A Proclamation

    In the Declaration of Independence and in the Constitution, our 
Nation's founders first articulated the enduring ideals that have 
sustained our democracy--freedom, self-determination, justice, and 
equality. Each year we set aside this special day to reaffirm our 
allegiance to those ideals and to our beloved country.
    The power and promise of our country's principles moved men and 
women throughout the American colonies to declare their allegiance to a 
new country and a new form of government that respected the rights of 
the individual. Throughout the decades, millions of immigrants drawn to 
America's freedom proved their loyalty to their adopted Nation in the 
words of the oath of citizenship and in their daily lives--working hard, 
striving to build a better future for their families and communities, 
serving in our Armed Forces, upholding our laws, and participating in 
our democracy.
    Other Americans have showed their loyalty by courageously 
challenging our Nation to live up to its ideals. We owe a profound debt 
to the heroes and visionaries who opposed slavery, reformed labor 
practices, won the right to vote for women, marched for civil rights, 
and spoke out with conscience and conviction whenever we have failed to 
uphold the highest standards of freedom and justice.
    We find perhaps the strongest and most moving evidence of loyalty to 
America in the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform. 
From the War of Independence to today's peacekeeping missions around the 
world, generations of Americans have shown their allegiance by defending 
our Nation against tyrants and terrorists, protecting our national 
interests wherever they are threatened, and promoting our values across 
the globe.
    On this first Loyalty Day of the 21st century, all Americans should 
give thanks that we live in a Nation that inspires such fidelity. And we 
should remember with pride the loyal patriots who have gone before us, 
whose character and efforts built America, preserved it in times of 
peril, and gave life to our founders' dreams.
    Recognizing the importance of loyalty to the continued strength of 
our country and success of our democracy, the Congress, by Public Law 
85-529, has designated May 1 of each year as ``Loyalty Day.''
     Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton,  President of the United 
States of America, do hereby proclaim May 1, 2000, as Loyalty Day. I 
urge all Americans to recall the valor and selflessness of all those who 
made this Nation worthy of our love and loyalty and to express our own 
loyalty through appropriate patriotic programs, ceremonies, and 
activities. I also call upon Government officials to display the flag of 
the United States in support of this national observance.
     In Witness Whereof,  I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth 
day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
fourth.
                                            William J. Clinton

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., May 2, 2000]

Note: This proclamation was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on May 1, and it was published in the Federal Register on May 
3.