[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 3, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 3CFR7623]

Proc. 7623

Proclamation 7623 of November 6, 2002

Veterans Day, 2002

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

          America was founded on the principles of liberty, opportunity, 
          and justice for all, and on Veterans Day we recognize the men 
          and women of our Armed Forces who have valiantly defended 
          these values throughout our Nation's history. These remarkable 
          individuals have helped to make our Nation secure and to 
          advance the cause of freedom worldwide. By answering the call 
          of duty and risking their lives to protect their fellow 
          countrymen, these patriots have inspired our Nation with their 
          courage, compassion, and dedication.
          There are currently more than 25 million living American 
          veterans, many of whom put their lives on the line to preserve 
          our freedoms. Our veterans served on the land, at sea, and in 
          the air, from the shores of Omaha Beach and the jungles of 
          Vietnam, to the sands of the Persian Gulf, the mountains of 
          Afghanistan, and many other battlefields around the globe. 
          Through each of these challenges, the members of the Army, 
          Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard have protected our 
          country and liberated millions of people around the world from 
          the threats of tyranny and terror.
          Our proud veterans have also helped to shape the American 
          character. They have given us an extraordinary legacy of 
          patriotism and honor, and their service represents the highest 
          form of citizenship. So that young Americans can better 
          understand the commitment and sacrifice of these heroes in 
          securing the blessings of liberty, I ask all schools to 
          observe November 10 through November 16, 2002, as National 
          Veterans Awareness Week. I encourage educators to invite 
          veterans to teach our young people about their experiences. By 
          sharing their knowledge on some of the most proud

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          and dramatic moments in our history, they can help educate and 
          inspire a new generation of Americans.
          On the observance of Veterans Day in 1954, President Dwight D. 
          Eisenhower called on all citizens to not only remember ``the 
          sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly...'' but also 
          to rededicate themselves ``to the task of promoting an 
          enduring peace....'' Today, almost 50 years later, we remember 
          the dedication of our veterans, and resolve ourselves to 
          upholding their legacy of justice, liberty, and opportunity 
          for all.
          In recognition of the contributions our service men and women 
          have made to the cause of peace and freedom around the world, 
          the Congress has provided (5 U.S.C. 6103(a)) that November 11 
          of each year shall be set aside as a legal public holiday to 
          honor veterans.
          NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United 
          States of America, do hereby proclaim November 11, 2002, as 
          Veterans Day and urge all Americans to observe November 10 
          through November 16, 2002, as National Veterans Awareness 
          Week. I urge all Americans to recognize the valor and 
          sacrifice of our veterans through appropriate public 
          ceremonies and private prayers. I call upon Federal, State, 
          and local officials to display the flag of the United States 
          and to encourage and participate in patriotic activities in 
          their communities. I invite civic and fraternal organizations, 
          places of worship, schools, businesses, unions, and the media 
          to support this national observance with suitable 
          commemorative expressions and programs.
          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day 
          of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand two, and of 
          the Independence of the United States of America the two 
          hundred and twenty-seventh.

GEORGE W. BUSH