Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 123.djvu/3711

 123STA T . 3 69 1 PROCL A M AT I O N84 13 — S E PT. 1 0, 2009 sti t u ti ona n dl a w so f t heU nited S tates , do he r e byp ro c lai m September 20 0 9 as N ational P reparedness M onth .I call upon the people of the United States to reco g ni z e the importance of preparing for potential emergencies beforehand and to obser v e this month with appropriate preparedness activities, events, and training to enhance our national re - silience. IN W I T N E SSW H E R E OF , I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of September, in the year of our L ord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of A merica the two hundred and thirty-fourth. B ARA CK OBAMA Proclam a ti o n8413 o fSep tem b er1 0,2 00 9Patrio t D a y a ndN ationa l Day o fSe r v i c e and R e m em b rance ,20 0 9BythePr e sid e n t of the U nited S t a tes of Am eri c a A Proc l amation Through the twisted steel of the twin towers of the World Trade Cen- ter, the scarred walls of the Pentagon, and the smo k y wreckage in a field in southwest Pennsylvania, the patriotism and resiliency of the American people shone brightly on September 1 1, 2001. We stood as one people, united in our common humanity and shared sorrow. We grieved for those who perished and remembered what brought us to- gether as Americans. Today, we honor the lives we lost 8 years ago. On a bright September day, innocent men, women, and children boarded planes and set off for work as they had so many times before. Unthinkable acts of ter- rorism brought tragedy, destruction, pain, and loss for people across our Nation and the world. As we pay tribute to loved ones, friends, fellow citizens, and all who died, we reaffirm our commitment to the ideas and ideals that united Americans in the aftermath of the attacks. We must apprehend all those who perpetrated these heinous crimes, seek j ustice for those who were killed, and defend against all threats to our national security. We must also recommit ourselves to our founding principles. September 11 reminds us that our fate as individuals is tied to that of our Nation. Our democracy is strengthened when we uphold the freedoms upon which our Nation was built e q uality, justice, liberty, and democracy. These values e x emplify the patriotism and sacrifice we commemorate today. In that same spirit of patriotism, I call upon all Americans to join in service and honor the lives we lost, the heroes who responded in our hour of need, and the brave men and women in uniform who continue to protect our country at home and abroad. In April, I was proud to sign the bipartisan Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which rec- ognizes September 11 as a National D ay of Service and Remembrance. Originated by the family members of those who lost loved ones on 9 / 11, the National Day of Service and Remembrance is an opportunity