Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 83.djvu/999

 83 STAT. ]

PROCLAMATION 3944-NOV. 12, 1969

971

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICHARD NIXON, President of the United States of America, do hereby designate Tuesday, October 28, 1969, as a Day of Bread, as a part of international observances, and the week beginning October 26, 1969, as a period of Harvest Festival. I invite officials of the Federal and State governments and local officials to encourage citizens' groups and agencies of communication— press, radio, television and motion pictures—to observe these events I N W I T N E S S WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of October, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred sixty-nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred ninety-fourth.
 * with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

(^/ijL^^^'K:^ Proclamation 3944 THANKSGIVING DAY, 1969 By the President of the United States of America

November 12, 1969

A Proclamation

On October 3, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln invited his fellow citizens to "set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of Thanksgiving...." This was the year of the battle of Gettysburg and of other major battles between Americans on American soil. To many, this call for a national day of Thanksgiving must have seemed strange, coming as it did at a time of war and bitterness. Yet Lincoln knew that the act of thanksgiving should not be limited to times of peace and serenity. He knew that it is precisely at those times of hardship when men most need to recognize that the Source of all good constantly bestows His blessings on mankind. Today, despite our material wealth and well-being, Americans face complex problems unknown before in our nation's history. I n giving thanks today, we express gratitude for past bounty and we also confidently face the challenges confronting our own nation and the world because we know we can rely on a strength greater than ourselves. This year, let us especially seek to rekindle in our respective hearts and minds the spirit of our first settlers who valued freedom above all else, and who found much for which to be thankful when material comforts were meager. We are, indeed, a most fortunate people. NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICHARD NIXON, President of the United States of America, in consonance with Section 6103 of Title 5 of the United States Code d e s i ^ a t i n g the fourth Thursday of No- ^^ Stat. 2so. vember in each year as Thanksgiving Day, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 27, 1969, as a day of national thanksgiving. I N W I T N E S S WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred sixty-nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred ninety-fourth.

(^2zJL^^^1K^:yc^

�