Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 118.djvu/4157

 118 STAT. 4127 PROCLAMATION 7779—APR. 30, 2004 in 1868 that the equality of all citizens under law was guaranteed by the Constitution. Still, for decades afterwards, millions of African- American citizens were subjected to shameful discrimination, and in many public school systems, students were segregated by race. Finally, in the 1954 Brown decision, the Supreme Court ruled that segregating students in our public schools violated our Constitution. Our Nation is grateful for the brave men and women and boys and girls who challenged segregation and helped make equal justice under law a reality for all Americans. We remember Thurgood Marshall, the he- roic lawyer who represented Linda Brown and fought for her rights and the rights of all African Americans. We remember the nine justices of the Supreme Court of the United States who helped America begin to make equal justice under law a reality for African Americans. Nearly 50 years after Brown, we appreciate the progress America has made, but we also recognize that there is still work to be done to en- sure that our country lives up to the founding principle that all of God’s children are created equal. As we observe this Law Day and commemorate the anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, I en- courage all Americans to celebrate the great distance we have traveled as a Nation and to continue our work to promote equality and oppor- tunity for all. NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, in accordance with Public Law 87–20, as amended, do hereby proclaim May 1, 2004, as Law Day, U.S.A. I call upon all the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities. I also call upon Government officials to dis- play the flag of the United States in support of this national observ- ance. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-eighth. GEORGE W. BUSH Proclamation 7779 of April 30, 2004 Loyalty Day, 2004 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation As Americans, we work to preserve the freedom declared by our Founding Fathers, defended by generations, and granted to every man and woman on Earth by the Almighty. On Loyalty Day, we are re- minded that we are citizens with obligations to our country, to each other, and to our great legacy of freedom and democracy. We learn lessons of loyalty from the selfless dedication and unwaver- ing allegiance of our men and women in uniform. We are grateful for their courage and willingness to sacrifice for our country, and we stand united behind them. Through the ‘‘On the Homefront’’; program, a USA Freedom Corps initiative, many Americans are writing to service VerDate 11-MAY-2000 15:04 Nov 10, 2005 Jkt 029194 PO 00000 Frm 00093 Fmt 8087 Sfmt 8087 C:\STATUTES\2004\29194PT4.004 APPS10 PsN: 29194PT4

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