[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 51 (Monday, December 25, 2006)]
[Page 2174]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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Message on the Observance of Kwanzaa 2006

December 8, 2006

    I send greetings to those observing Kwanzaa.
    During the seven days of Kwanzaa leading up to the New Year, friends 
and family come together in a spirit of love and joy to honor their rich 
African heritage, reflect on the Seven Principles, and give thanks for 
the blessings of freedom and opportunity. Forty years after the first 
Kwanzaa, this hopeful occasion remains an opportunity to build the bonds 
of family, community, and culture and move ever closer to the founding 
promise of liberty and justice for all.
    Our Nation is a better place because of the contributions African 
Americans have made to our strength and character over the generations. 
As you gather to celebrate your ancestry this Kwanzaa, I encourage you 
to take pride in your many achievements and look to the future with 
confidence in your abilities and faith in a brighter tomorrow.
    Laura and I send our best wishes for a joyous Kwanzaa and a blessed 
New Year.
                                                George W. Bush

Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
December 18. An original was not available for verification of the 
content of this message.