[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 24 (Monday, June 20, 2005)]
[Pages 981-982]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7910--Flag Day and National Flag Week, 2005

 June 10, 2005

 By the President of the United States

 of America

 A Proclamation

    For more than two centuries, the flag of the United States has been 
a symbol of hope and pride. The flag has inspired our citizens during 
times of conflict and comforted us during moments of sorrow and loss. On 
Flag Day and throughout National Flag Week, we celebrate the proud 
legacy of Old Glory and reflect on this enduring symbol of freedom.
    On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed a 
resolution stating that ``the flag of the United States be thirteen 
stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, 
white in a blue field.'' As States have been added to the Union, the 
flag has been modified to reflect their addition to our Nation. Today, 
the appearance of our flag is based on President Eisenhower's Executive 
Order of August 21, 1959, to include a star for all 50 States together 
with 13 stripes representing the original 13 American colonies.
    Generations of Americans in uniform have carried the Stars and 
Stripes into battle so that our citizens can live in freedom. Across the 
globe, a new generation of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast 
Guardsmen has stepped forward to serve under our flag, defending America 
from our enemies. We are grateful to them and their families for 
defending our flag and the values of our great Nation.
    On this Flag Day, we recall the rich history of Old Glory, and we 
remember our duty to carry our heritage of freedom into the future.
    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, 2005, as Flag Day and the week 
beginning June 12, 2005, 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 tenth day of 
June, 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, 9:04 a.m., June 14, 
2005]

Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on June 
15. This item was not received in time for publication in the 
appropriate issue.

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