Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 113 Part 3.djvu/521

 PROCLAMATION 7156—DEC. 4, 1998 113 STAT. 2039 NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim December 1998 as National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month. I urge all Americans who drive to take responsibility for themselves, their loved ones, guests, and passengers; to stop anyone rnider the influence of alcohol 01 mind-altering drugs from getting behind the wheel; and to help teach our young people safe and alcohol- and drug-free driving behavior. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of December, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety- eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-third. WILLIAM J. CLINTON Proclamation 7156 of December 4, 1998 National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, 1998 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Fifty-seven years ago, at 7:55 on Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, Imperial Japan launched a surprise attack on ^^merican forces at Pearl Harbor, thrusting the United States into the crucible of World War II. From the vantage point of history, we now know that the events of that day would transform our Nation and the course: of world history. Attacking in two waves, Japanese aircraft killed or wounded almost 3,600 Americans—over 1,000 of them aboard the battleship ARI- ZONA—sank or badly damaged most of our Pacific Fleet, and destroyed or damaged almost all U.S. aircraft in the area. In his historic speech to the Congress on the following day. President Franklin Roosevelt requested and the Congress approved a declaration of war against Japan. With characteristic optimism and confidence in the spirit of the American people, he predicted that "No matter how long it may take us... the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory." President Roosevelt proved to be right, although he would not live to see the ultimate triumph of freedom. After almost 4 long years of struggle and sacrifice by the men and women of our Armed Forces, sustained by the prayers of their families and the efforts of determined working men and women throughout our land who built our Nation into the "Arsenal of Democracy," the United States and our allies prevailed over the forces of fascism and oppression. To understand and appreciate the magnitude of our victory in World War II, we have only to remember Pearl Harbor. We have only to remember the indomitable spirit of the American forces there who, despite the death and destruction engulfing them, individually and collectively responded with courage and selflessness. We remember the sailors who raced to their battle stations and opened fire on the attacking Japanese planes even as their ships were ablaze and sinking. We remember the small, valiant band of Army pilots who managed to take

�