For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 10, 2005
Flag Day and National Flag Week, 2005
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
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
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