[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 25 (Monday, June 21, 2004)]
[Pages 1060-1061]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7796--Flag Day and National Flag Week, 2004

June 12, 2004

By the President of the United States

of America

A Proclamation

    For more than 200 years, the American flag has served as a symbol of 
our country's enduring freedom and unity. Old Glory has welcomed 
generations of immigrants to America's shores and is displayed proudly 
on homes, at schools, and over businesses across our country. During 
times of war, our flag has rallied our citizens to defend the blessings 
of liberty at home and abroad. It has accompanied our troops into battle 
and been given to grieving families at the grave sites

[[Page 1061]]

of fallen heroes. Today, as our brave men and women in uniform fight 
terrorism and advance freedom, the flag inspires patriotism and pride 
across our Nation and around the world.
    Each year on June 14, we honor the American flag and recall the 
adoption of our first official national flag by the Continental Congress 
in 1777. The first Flag Day observances began quietly in the 19th 
century as State and local celebrations recognizing the anniversary of 
the Stars and Stripes. Inspired by these patriotic gatherings, President 
Woodrow Wilson established the first national observance by proclamation 
in 1916. To commemorate the adoption of our flag, the Congress, by joint 
resolution approved August 3, 1949, as amended (63 Stat. 492), 
designated June 14 of each year as ``Flag Day'' and requested that the 
President issue an annual proclamation calling for its observance and 
for the display of the Flag of the United States on all Federal 
Government buildings. The Congress also requested, by joint resolution 
approved June 9, 1966, as amended (80 Stat. 194), that the President 
issue annually a proclamation designating the week in which June 14 
occurs as ``National Flag Week'' and calling upon all citizens of the 
United States to display the flag during that week.
    Now, Therefore, I, George W. Bush, President of the United States of 
America, do hereby proclaim June 14, 2004, as Flag Day and the week 
beginning June 13, 2004, as National Flag Week. I direct the appropriate 
officials to display the flag on all Federal Government buildings during 
that week, and I urge all Americans to observe Flag Day and National 
Flag Week by flying the Stars and Stripes from their homes and other 
suitable places. I also call upon the people of the United States to 
observe with pride and all due ceremony those days from Flag Day through 
Independence Day, also set aside by the Congress (89 Stat. 211), as a 
time to honor America, to celebrate our heritage in public gatherings 
and activities, and to publicly recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the 
Flag of the United States of America.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of 
June, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, 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, 9:14 a.m., June 15, 
2004]

Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on June 
16.