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 PROCLAMATION 6409—MAR. 5, 1992 106 STAT. 5231 were no strangers to prejudice or discrimination either; they bore the brunt of the "Know-Nothing" nativist movement, and many felt the sting of signs posted by hiring employers that read: "No Irish Need Apply. " Characteristically, however, Irish-Americans proved to be more durable than the forces of bigotry and distrust—even the nickname "the fighting Irish," once used in derision, gradually became an expression of admiration and pride. With faith in Almighty God, with a strength rooted in love of family, and with full confidence in the promise of America, Irish immigrants and their descendants steadily achieved social and economic advancement. Well recognizing the virtues of democracy, Irish-Americans organized effectively at the grass-roots level and greatly increased their voice in government during the early part of this century. Moreover, as they had done since the earliest days of our Republic, the Irish home, school, and church together affirmed the importance of faith, industry, and learning. Thus, today we celebrate many outstanding contributions and achievements of Irish-Americans in virtually every sphere of our national life. Although it spans more than three centuries of American history, the Irish-American heritage continues to flourish on this soil—as perennial as the "wearing o' the green." Annual Saint Patrick's Day events in the United States resonate with a deep and earnest affinity between the American and Irish peoples. In recent years, renewed immigration from Ireland has underscored the strong ties between our two countries. The Congress, by House Joint Resolution 350, has designated March 1992 as "Irish-American Heritage Month." NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim March 1992 as Irish-American Heritage Month. I invite all Americans to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and sixteenth. GEORGE BUSH Proclamation 6409 of March 5, 1992 National Day of Prayer, 1992 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation We live during a time of great and historic change, a time that has seen the rise of newly democratic nations and the fall of once firmly entrenched totalitarian regimes. While such progress is cause for optimism and hope, the dramatic pace of global developments and the uncertainty they generate can also leave us with a faint sense of anticipation and unease. As we seek to chart a proper course in a world that is changing by the hour, our observance of a National Day of Prayer 59-194 O—93 22: QL 3 (Pt. 6)

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