[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 20 (Monday, May 23, 2005)]
[Pages 840-841]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7904--National Maritime Day, 2005

 May 19, 2005

 By the President of the United States

 of America

 A Proclamation

    America's merchant mariners make our Nation more secure and our 
economy stronger. Throughout our history, they have promoted commerce 
and protected our freedom. On National Maritime Day, we honor the 
dedicated service of the United States Merchant Marine.
    Each year, the men and women of the U.S. maritime transportation 
system move more than 2 billion tons of cargo along our waterways and 
across the open seas. Many of the raw materials Americans purchase are 
transported by merchant vessels, and merchant mariners ship agricultural 
products and finished goods in and out of the United States every day.
    Merchant mariners have also served in every conflict in our Nation's 
history. The U.S. Merchant Marine helps provide our Nation's Armed 
Forces with crucial supplies and equipment. These brave men and women 
demonstrate courage, love of country, and devotion to duty, and we 
especially honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense 
of our Nation. The United States is safer and the world is more peaceful 
because of the work of our merchant mariners, and we are grateful for 
their service.
    In recognition of the importance of the U.S. Merchant Marine, the 
Congress, by joint resolution approved on May 20, 1933, as amended, has 
designated May 22 of each year as ``National Maritime Day,'' and has 
authorized and requested that the President

[[Page 841]]

issue an annual proclamation calling for its appropriate observance.
    Now, Therefore, I, George W. Bush, President of the United States of 
America, do hereby proclaim May 22, 2005, as National Maritime Day. I 
call upon the people of the United States to celebrate this observance 
and to display the flag of the United States at their homes and in their 
communities. I also request that all ships sailing under the American 
flag dress ship on that day.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this nineteenth day 
of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand five, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
ninth.
                                                George W. Bush

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 11:04 a.m., May 20, 
2005]

Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on May 23.