[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 18 (Monday, May 12, 2008)]
[Pages 672-673]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 8253--Mother's Day, 2008

 May 8, 2008

 By the President of the United States

 of America

 A Proclamation

    On Mother's Day, we honor the grace, wisdom, and strength of our 
mothers, and we celebrate the special bonds shared between mothers and 
their children.
    Mothers work tirelessly to help their children build healthy and 
successful lives. Through their positive examples and countless acts of 
kindness, mothers teach the values of generosity and compassion and the 
importance of family and community. As President Ronald Reagan said, 
``From our mothers, we first learn about values and caring and the 
difference between right and

[[Page 673]]

wrong.'' By providing a nurturing environment where their children can 
grow in confidence and character, mothers lay the foundation for the 
next generation of Americans to realize their full potential.

    Our Nation is grateful for the sacrifices mothers make every day and 
for the unconditional love they give their children. We are especially 
thankful for the mothers who support their sons and daughters serving in 
our Armed Forces and for the mothers who bring honor to the uniform of 
the United States by defending our freedom at home and abroad.

    Every child blessed with a mother's love has been given one of 
life's great gifts. On this Mother's Day, we recognize the extraordinary 
contributions America's mothers make to their children, their families, 
and our country.

    To honor mothers, the Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 
8, 1914, as amended (38 Stat. 770), has designated the second Sunday in 
May each year as ``Mother's Day'' and has requested the President to 
call for its appropriate observance. May God bless mothers across 
America on this special day and throughout the year.

    Now, Therefore, I, George W. Bush, President of the United States of 
America, do hereby proclaim May 11, 2008, as Mother's Day. I encourage 
all Americans to show their gratitude and love to mothers for making a 
difference in the lives of their children, families, and communities. I 
call upon citizens to observe this day with appropriate programs, 
ceremonies, and activities.

    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of 
May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence 
of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.
                                                George W. Bush

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 11:24 a.m., May 9, 
2008]

Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on May 12.