Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 75.djvu/1085

 75 STAT.]

PROCLAMATION 3403—APR. 5, 1961

1045

NATIONAL MARITIME DAY, 1961 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation

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WHEREAS the American Merchant Marine is a major factor in maintaining the economy of the Nation through serving the peacetime commerce of the United States; and WHEREAS American-flag shipping is essential to the defense of this and other nations of the free world and to the cause of freedom on every continent; and WHEREAS American merchant ships and the men who sail them implement our national policy of providing food and supplies to the famished and stricken of the world when the need arises; and WHEREAS the Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 20, 1933 (48 Stat. 73), designated May 22 as National 3 USC i45. 6 Maritime Day, in commemoration of the departure from Savannah, Georgia, on May 22, 1819, of the S.S. Savannah on the first transoceanic voyage by any steamship, and requested the President to issue a proclamation annually calling for the observance of that day; and WHEREAS the world's first nuclearpowered merchant ship, named the N.S. Savannah in honor of the first Savannah, will put to sea this year, demonstrating for all peoples the intention of this Nation to use atomic power for peaceful purposes: NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOHN F. KENNEDY, President of the United States of America, do hereby urge the people of the United States to honor our Merchant Marine on Monday, May 22, 1961, by displaying the flag of the United States at their homes or other suitable places; and I direct the appropriate officials of the Government to arrange for the display of the flag on all Government buildings on that day. I also request that all ships sailing under the American flag dress ship on

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