Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 118.djvu/4141

 118 STAT. 4111 PROCLAMATION 7762—MAR. 5, 2004 Women today are following in the footsteps of pioneers such as Sarah Pierce, Emma Willard, Catherine Beecher, and Mary Lyon, who helped open the doors to higher education for women in our country. Their vision and determination changed America forever. Women today also join a long tradition of defending our Nation. During the Revolutionary War, Margaret Cochran Corbin fought as a gunner and was severely wounded at the battle of Fort Washington. Today, more than 200,000 women are serving in our Nation’s Armed Forces and working to de- fend America and advance peace and freedom. We are grateful for their sacrifice and for the military families that support them. This month, we celebrate the many ways women strengthen and enrich America. NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Con- stitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2004 as Women’s History Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month with appropriate ceremonies and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and of the Inde- pendence of the United States of America the two hundred and twen- ty-eighth. GEORGE W. BUSH Proclamation 7762 of March 5, 2004 Save Your Vision Week, 2004 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Millions of Americans enjoy healthy vision. Yet, each year, many of our citizens suffer from vision loss that could have been prevented or reversed with effective detection and appropriate intervention. Com- memorating Save Your Vision Week reminds us of the importance of including eye care as part of a regular preventive health routine. Eating healthy foods, wearing safety glasses, and avoiding the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays are ways to help to keep our eyes healthy. Regular, comprehensive exams are also important to maintain good vision and eye health. For children, regular eye exams can help parents ensure that their children’s vision is developing normally and can identify a problem before it becomes more serious. For adults, eye care professionals can detect glaucoma and eye damage from diabetes in the early stages of progression, thereby preventing further harm. Dia- betes can seriously affect vision in addition to general health. An esti- mated 40 to 45 percent of all people diagnosed with diabetes will de- velop some degree of diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of new cases of blindness in working-age Americans that often presents few warning signs and no pain. Other eye diseases such as glaucoma may cause vision damage and eventual blindness without the individual being aware of a problem. VerDate 11-MAY-2000 15:04 Nov 10, 2005 Jkt 029194 PO 00000 Frm 00077 Fmt 8087 Sfmt 8087 C:\STATUTES\2004\29194PT4.004 APPS10 PsN: 29194PT4

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