Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 123.djvu/3721

 123STA T . 3 70 1 PROCL A M AT I O N84 20 — S E PT. 21 , 200 9WarI I Memo r i a l,th e K orea n War V eteran s Memorial, the Vietnam Vet - erans Memorial, U nite dS tates p ost o f fi c es, national cemeteries, and other locations across o u r countr y. Itisapo w erful reminder that our N ation will ne v er cease in our commitment to honor those who have paid so hi g h a price in its service. N O W, THER E F ORE, I, BA RA C K OBAMA, P resident of the United States of America, b y virtue of the authority vested in me by the Con- stitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Sep- tember 18, 20 0 9 , as National POW / MIA Recognition D ay, and I urge all Americans to observe this day of honor and remembrance with appro- priate ceremonies and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of September, in the year of our L ord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth. BARACK OBAMA Proclam a ti o n8420 o fSep tem b er2 1, 200 9Nation a lF a rmS a fe t y an dH ealt hW ee k,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 Our Nation ’ s prosperity has been built on the s k ill and productivity of our farmers and ranchers. Two centuries ago, many American families toiled in fields and grasslands so that they might feed themselves. Today, those in the agricultural sector provide food, fiber, biofuels, and many other life necessities for millions across our Nation and around the world. The hard work and talent of those in the agricultural indus- try, and continued advances in technology and efficiency, have pro- vided great security to the United States. As they offer great benefits to our Nation, farmers and ranchers also face significant risks in the course of their everyday duties. They often transport and operate heavy and ha z ardous e q uipment and work in e x - treme weather conditions. Farmers may be exposed to pesticides, fer- tilizers, chemicals, and dust that can be harmful to human health. They also work in dangerous areas such as wells, silos, and grain ele- vators. These individuals must take great precautions to protect their health and safety, especially since rural residents may have to travel long distances to receive trauma care for an accident-related in j ury. They must also take particular care to avoid accidents involving chil- dren. As the fall harvest season approaches, I encourage farm and ranch fam- ilies and workers to participate in farm safety and health programs. I also encourage them to follow optimal farm safety and health practices. Businesses and communities, and organizations and neighbors, can en- courage one another to understand the risks of this work so that we can prevent accidents, prevent exposure to potential hazards, and save lives.