Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 118.djvu/4175

 118 STAT. 4145 PROCLAMATION 7797—JUNE 19, 2004 resolution approved August 3, 1949, as amended (63 Stat. 492), des- ignated 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 Govern- ment buildings. The Congress also requested, by joint resolution ap- proved 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, 2004, as Flag Day and the week beginning June 13, 2004, 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 Con- gress (89 Stat. 211), as a time to honor America, to celebrate our herit- age 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 twelfth day of June, 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 7797 of June 19, 2004 Father’s Day, 2004 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation A special bond exists between a father and his children. On Father’s Day, we recognize the important role fathers play in the American fam- ily, and we honor them for their strength, love, and commitment. After listening to a church service on Mother’s Day 1909, Sonora Dodd proposed a day to honor fathers. She was inspired by the courage and sacrifice of her own father, a Civil War veteran, who reared six chil- dren by himself after his wife’s death. As others began to celebrate it, the idea for Father’s Day spread across America. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson officially proclaimed Father’s Day as a national ob- servance. Fathers have a duty to love their children with all their hearts and pre- pare them to be independent, compassionate, and responsible citizens. A father’s words and actions are critical in shaping the character of his children. A father’s love helps teach them right from wrong, explains to them the consequences of bad decisions, and strengthens them with encouragement. VerDate 11-MAY-2000 15:04 Nov 10, 2005 Jkt 029194 PO 00000 Frm 00111 Fmt 8087 Sfmt 8087 C:\STATUTES\2004\29194PT4.004 APPS10 PsN: 29194PT4

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