[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 45 (Monday, November 11, 2002)]
[Pages 1997-1998]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7623--Veterans Day, 2002

 November 6, 2002

By the President of the United States

of America

A Proclamation

    America was founded on the principles of liberty, opportunity, and 
justice for all, and on Veterans Day we recognize the men and women of 
our Armed Forces who have valiantly defended these values throughout our 
Nation's history. These remarkable individuals have helped to make our 
Nation secure and to advance the cause of freedom worldwide. By 
answering the call of duty and risking their lives to protect their 
fellow countrymen, these patriots have inspired our Nation with their 
courage, compassion, and dedication.
    There are currently more than 25 million living American veterans, 
many of whom put their lives on the line to preserve our freedoms. Our 
veterans served on the land, at sea, and in the air, from the shores of 
Omaha Beach and the jungles of Vietnam, to the sands of the Persian 
Gulf, the mountains of Afghanistan, and many other battlefields around 
the globe. Through each of these challenges, the members of the Army, 
Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard have protected our country and 
liberated millions of people around the world from the threats of 
tyranny and terror.
    Our proud veterans have also helped to shape the American character. 
They have given us an extraordinary legacy of patriotism and honor, and 
their service represents the highest form of citizenship. So that young 
Americans can better understand the commitment and sacrifice of these 
heroes in securing the blessings of liberty, I ask all schools to 
observe November 10 through November 16, 2002, as National Veterans 
Awareness Week. I encourage educators to invite veterans to teach our 
young people about their experiences. By sharing their knowledge on some 
of the most proud and dramatic moments in our history, they can help 
educate and inspire a new generation of Americans.
    On the observance of Veterans Day in 1954, President Dwight D. 
Eisenhower called on all citizens to not only remember ``the sacrifices 
of all those who fought so valiantly . . .'' but also to rededicate 
themselves ``to the task of promoting an enduring peace . . . .'' Today, 
almost 50 years later, we remember the dedication of our veterans, and 
resolve ourselves to upholding their legacy of justice, liberty, and 
opportunity for all.
    In recognition of the contributions our service men and women have 
made to the cause of peace and freedom around the world, the Congress 
has provided (5 U.S.C. 6103(a)) that November 11 of each year shall be 
set aside as a legal public holiday to honor veterans.
    Now, Therefore, I, George W. Bush, President of the United States of 
America, do hereby proclaim November 11, 2002, as Veterans Day and urge 
all Americans to observe November 10 through November 16, 2002, as 
National Veterans Awareness Week. I urge all Americans to recognize the 
valor and sacrifice of our veterans through appropriate public 
ceremonies and private prayers. I call upon Federal, State, and local 
officials to display the flag of the United States and to encourage and 
participate in patriotic activities in their communities. I invite civic 
and fraternal organizations, places of worship, schools, businesses, 
unions, and the media to support this national observance with suitable 
commemorative expressions and programs.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of 
November, in the year of our Lord two thousand two, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
seventh.
                                                George W. Bush

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 11:29 a.m., November 8, 
2002]

Note: This proclamation will be published in the Federal Register on 
November 12.

[[Page 1998]]