[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 29 (Monday, July 28, 2008)]
[Pages 1024-1025]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 8277--Parents' Day, 2008

 July 24, 2008

 By the President of the United States

 of America

 A Proclamation

     Parents teach their children timeless values to help them make the 
most of life's opportunities and overcome its challenges. On Parents' 
Day, we pay tribute to the parents who provide their children with 
guidance, support, and unconditional love and who help make our country 
a better place.
    Mothers and fathers are a source of stability and great comfort in 
society, and they have a vital obligation to love and care for their 
children. Through patient instruction and a loving example, they instill 
in children the principles that make our Nation strong and ensure that 
children have the skills to lead lives of character and integrity. As a 
child's primary teachers, parents are responsible for their child's 
education, and their efforts will contribute to a more hopeful future 
for our country. Parents can help shape our Nation by encouraging young 
people to make the right choices, become responsible citizens, and 
achieve their dreams.
    My Administration remains dedicated to promoting Federal, State, and 
faith-based and community programs to assist American families and 
support healthy marriages and responsible parenting. We are committed to 
helping parents and schools enable the next generation of Americans to 
realize their full potential.
    On Parents' Day, we honor mothers and fathers and thank them for 
their many years of patience and selflessness. We take this opportunity 
also to recognize parents of adopted children and foster parents, who 
generously provide children with a loving family to call their own. We 
also recognize the parents who serve in our Armed Forces and the parents 
of the brave men and women wearing our Nation's uniform. The members of 
our Armed Forces are defending our freedom with dignity and honor, and 
America is grateful for the sacrifices that they and their families make 
in the name of duty.
     Now, Therefore, I, George W. Bush, President of the United States 
of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution 
and laws of the United States and consistent with Public Law 103-362, as 
amended, do hereby proclaim Sunday, July 27, 2008, as Parents' Day. I 
call upon citizens, private organizations, and governmental bodies at 
all levels to engage in activities and educational efforts that 
recognize, support, and honor parents, and I encourage American sons and 
daughters to convey their love, respect, and appreciation to their 
parents.
     In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fourth 
day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
third.
                                                George W. Bush

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., July 28, 
2008]

[[Page 1025]]

Note: This proclamation was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on July 25, and it will be published in the Federal Register 
on July 29.