[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 46 (Monday, November 17, 2003)]
[Pages 1612-1613]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7736--National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve 
Week, 2003

 November 14, 2003

 By the President of the United States

 of America

 A Proclamation

    From before the American Revolution, to the Civil War, to the wars 
in Vietnam and the Persian Gulf, our National Guard and Reserve have 
served our country with distinction. Today, our National Guard and 
Reserve forces are active on every front in the War on Terror. During 
National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week, we honor our 
courageous citizen-soldiers and their employers, whose continued support 
is vital to the success of our Armed Forces and to the strength of our 
country.
    America's Guard and Reserve personnel are training hard and 
deploying frequently to meet new challenges worldwide. These brave 
defenders have performed combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. They 
have provided security at Guantanamo Bay. They have prepared for 
homeland security missions. Our Nation is blessed and grateful for

[[Page 1613]]

the service of the brave men and women of the National Guard and 
Reserve.
    By supporting our Guardsmen and Reservists, employers across our 
Nation also are helping to advance freedom and democracy around the 
world. At the same time, these employers benefit from the experience and 
leadership skills these citizen-soldiers bring home. Employer support of 
our Guard and Reserve in the United States and abroad helps ensure our 
troops are mission-ready and is a source of pride and assurance for all 
Americans. This country is grateful to employers and workers for their 
support of Guard and Reserve members and their families. Because 
military deployment often disrupts families and businesses, my 
Administration is working to make deployments more predictable. 
Together, our National Guard and Reserve forces and their employers are 
united in purpose and reflect the highest standards of professionalism 
and honor.
     Now, Therefore, I, George W. Bush, President of the United States 
of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution 
and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 16 through 
November 22, 2003, as National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve 
Week. I encourage all Americans to join me in expressing our heartfelt 
thanks to the members of our National Guard and Reserve and their 
civilian employers for their extraordinary sacrifices on behalf of our 
Nation. I also call on State and local officials, private organizations, 
businesses, and all military commanders to observe this week with 
appropriate ceremonies and activities.
     In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day 
of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand three, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
eighth.
                                                George W. Bush

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., November 18, 
2003]

Note: This proclamation will be published in the Federal Register on 
November 19.