Proclamation 6063.
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/statutes-at-large/vol-103/proclamation-6063·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
103 STAT. 3154 Proclamation 6063 of November 8, 1989 Montana Centennial Day, 1989 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation On November 8, 1889, Montana was admitted to the Union as the 41st State. In the century that has followed, the people of Montana have built upon their frontier heritage and made substantial contributions to our Nation’s economic and social well-being. During their famous expedition early in the 19th century, Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark introduced this “Big Sky Country” to the world.
By wagon train and later by railroad, a rush of homesteaders seized the opportunity to cultivate this new land and enjoy its abundant natural resources. Our Nation’s fourth largest State is now home to a number of important industries—such as farming, ranching, mining, and tourism—that utilize its spectacular wealth of forests, prairies, wildlife, minerals, and natural beauty. Montanans are a proud, hardworking, and community-minded people who have added strength and color to the character of America.
In recognition of these contributions, the Congress, by Senate joint Resolution 19, has designated November 8, 1989, as “Montana Centennial Day” and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this day. NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim November 8, 1989, as Montana Centennial Day. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fourteenth.
GEORGE BUSH 6064 November 9, 1989 National Women Veterans Recognition Week, 1989 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 6064 of November 9, 1989 National Women Veterans Recognition Week, 1989 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation " For more than 50 years, our Nation has benefitted from the service of women in every branch of our Armed Forces. Women have served with distinction in every overseas combat theater of every conflict since World War 1.
Some have been wounded in the line of duty, and others have given their lives for our country, but all have been a vital element in the success of America’s Armed Forces. Bringing their talent, skill, and vision to a variety of occupations, they have made a lasting mark upon the military history of the United States. 103 STAT. 3155 The contributions and the sacrifices of the women who have served in our Armed Forces merit the respect and admiration of the people of the United States.
Thus, it is most fitting that we set aside a special time to honor our women veterans. In grateful recognition of the women who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States, the Congress, by House Joint Resolution 35. has designated the week beginning November 5, 1989, as “National Women Veterans Recognition Week” and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this event. NOW, THEREFORE, 1, GEORGE BUSH. President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the week beginning November 5, 1989. as National Women Veterans Recognition Week.
I call upon the people of the United States to observe the week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fourteenth. GEORGE BUSH " 6065 November 9, 1989 Washington Centennial Day, 1989 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 6065 of November 9, 1989 Washington Centennial Day, 1989 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation On November 11, 1889, Elisha P.
Ferry, the first Governor of Washington State, received a telegram from President Benjamin Harrison announcing that Washington had become the 42nd State in the Union. A story in the *Tacoma Daily News* the following day reflected the pride and joy felt by the people of the new State: Occupying, as it does. the very richest section of the whole country, with its wealth of inland shores lined with limber enough to supply the world, with its rich veins of valuable ores, with its valuable agricultural lands and its unparalleled scenery for beauty and grandeur, combined with its unequalled climate, it starts out on its life of statehood with not only the eyes of this land, but the whole world upon it.
The area now known as Washington State had been inhabited by Native Americans for thousands of years. However, it was not until Captain Cook explored the region in 1778 and returned with tales of its land, timber, and fur that it became known to the rest of the world. More explorers followed Cook’s path, and, in 1804, the young United States of America sent out an expedition led by Lewis and Clark to explore the area. In subsequent years, missionaries and pioneers journeyed across the continent to settle in the fertile territory charted by Lewis and Clark, beginning a process of growth and discovery that has continued to this day.
In 1889, Washington State was home to 350,000 people—fewer people than currently live in Seattle, now its largest city. During the past 100 years, the State has grown to a population of more than 4 million. Today’s residents, like the pioneers before them, have been able stew-103 STAT. 3156ards of the State’s vast forests, clear waters, grand mountains, and abundant wildlife. Since achieving statehood in 1889, Washington has also witnessed tremendous economic development. Washington State has become a leader in aviation, computer software, shipbuilding, trade, forestry, agriculture, and the production of energy.
The Puget Sound area flourishes as a gateway to the Pacific. Eastern Washington boasts rich soil that has made the State famous worldwide for its apples and many other crops. In recognition of the importance of Washington’s contributions to the United States and in commemoration of its Centennial, the Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 209, has designated November 11, 1989, as “Washington Centennial Day” and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this day.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH. President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim November 11, 1989, as Washington Centennial Day. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fourteenth. GEORGE BUSH 6066 November 9, 1989 Geography Awareness Week, 1989 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 6066 of November 9, 1989 Geography Awareness Week, 1989 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Geographic conditions around the world have had a great influence upon both the history of mankind and the course of current events.
Geography has been an important factor in the social, political, and economic development of virtually every nation. Thus, the study of geography—the study of a people, their environment, their cultural heritage, and their natural resources—is essential not only to our understanding of the past but also to our ability to participate in an increasingly interdependent world. While public awareness of geography is important to our Nation’s political and economic leadership in the world, far too many Americans have little knowledge of the subject.
According to one recent poll, Americans ranked among the bottom third on an international test of geographical knowledge. Scores for Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 were particularly poor. Statistics have indicated that a large number of American students cannot locate the United States on a map of the world, and many adults cannot name more than one-fourth of the NATO member nations. Some cannot name any. This lack of fundamental geographic knowledge, including knowledge of foreign languages and cultures, places the United States at a serious disadvantage in matters of international commerce and politics.
We 103 STAT. 3157cannot develop or maintain effective foreign policies, trade strategies, and business practices if the physical characteristics and political boundaries of various regions of the world are unfamiliar to us. Likewise, our efforts to promote international understanding and cooperation depend, in large part, upon our ability to understand the language, customs, and physical circumstances of other peoples. Because geographic conditions can have a profound effect upon each nation’s development and role in the world, it is vital that we study them carefully.
During Geography Awareness Week, we recognize the importance of encouraging every American citizen to develop a thorough understanding of elementary geography. Fortunately, we have already begun to address the need for improvements in America’s educational system, including renewed emphasis on the basics. By imparting to our Nation’s schoolchildren a greater understanding of geography, and by ensuring that we set a positive example for them through our own efforts to study the world around us, we can give them one of the most important tools they will need to function in the global community.
To focus attention on the importance of the study and mastery of geography, the Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 120, has designated the week beginning November 12, 1969, as “Geography Awareness Week” and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this week. NOW, THEREFORE. I, GEORGE BUSH. President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the week beginning November 12, 1989, as Geography Awareness Week. I urge all Americans to observe this week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fourteenth. GEORGE BUSH 6067 November 14, 1989 American Education Week, 1889 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 6067 of November 14, 1989 American Education Week, 1889 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Education is a lifelong process of growth and discovery that, for each child, begins within the inimitable shelter of the family and extends through years of schooling and experience.
During American Education Week, we pause to reflect upon the importance of a strong educational system to our well-being as individuals and as a Nation. America’s schools play an important role in nurturing our children’s intellectual and social development. By helping their students grow in knowledge, skill, and reasoning ability, teachers not only open the doors of opportunity for them, but also help them to become responsible, productive citizens. Giving young people a greater understanding of 103 STAT. 3158our Nation’s history and preparing them to exercise their rights and responsibilities as citizens, America’s schools help strengthen our system of self-government.
Our Nation’s Founding Fathers clearly understood the vital connection between liberty and learning. They knew that only an educated and informed public can keep a free and democratic government. Like Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, our fourth President was a strong advocate of public education. “Knowledge will forever govern ignorance,” he once wrote, “and a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.” Two hundred years after our Nation’s founding, we can be grateful for the dedication to learning that is so deeply ingrained in American tradition.
However, standing on the threshold of the 21st century also compels us to examine the state of American education and consider what it holds for our future. A good education is a lasting treasure in its own right, but is also essential to keeping the United States strong and prosperous in an increasingly competitive world. In September, I met with the Nation’s Governors in an historic Summit to discuss the challenges facing us in working toward excellence in education. The President’s Education Summit with the Governors brought forth unanimous agreement on the significance of this issue to the future of the Nation and to the quality of life for every American.
We will build upon the vision of our Founding Fathers in establishing national education goals and in mobilizing a state-by-state effort to restructure our educational system. Improving our Nation’s education system is not a job for its chief executives alone, however. The challenge and responsibility for the Nation’s future must be met by each citizen in every walk of life. It will require the sustained involvement of parents, teachers, local school administrators, business leaders, elected officials, and the public at large.
It will require recognizing the value of lifelong learning, raising our expectations, holding ourselves accountable for results, and never settling for the minimum. Every American can help ensure that young people receive the quality education they need and deserve. We can do so by participating in parent-teacher organizations; by serving on our local school boards; and by supporting private institutions, adult education, and literacy programs. We can also lend our support to our local libraries and museums, and encourage our children to take advantage of these valuable educational resources.
This year, as we observe American Education Week and reflect upon its theme, “Learning and Liberty: Our Roots, Our Future.” let us renew our determination to improve America’s educational system. Strengthening our schools is one of the greatest investments we can make in our Nation’s future. NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim the week beginning November 12, 1989. as American Education Week.
I urge all Americans to observe this week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. 103 STAT. 3159 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fourteenth. GEORGE BUSH Editorial Note: For the President’s remarks of Nov. 14, 1989, on signing Proclamation 6067, see the *Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents* (vol. 25. p. 1743). 6068 November 15, 1989 National Diabetes Month, 1969 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 6068 of November 15, 1989 National Diabetes Month, 1969 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Diabetes mellitus is one of the most serious public health problems challenging this country today.
An estimated 11 million Americans have the disease, and about half of the them are not aware of their illness. Each year, more than 500,000 new cases of diabetes are identified. All diabetics are at increased risk of developing eye, nerve, or kidney damage, as well as heart disease. These complications make diabetes a leading cause of death in the United States. Affecting individuals of all ages, regardless of gender or race, diabetes costs our Nation billions of dollars annually in health care and lost economic productivity.
More important, however, and more tragic is the untold personal suffering endured by diabetics and their families. Fortunately, however, the mystery of diabetes is beginning to unfold. Medical research has produced remarkable progress in understanding the causes and complications of diabetes and in devising treatments for it. In insulin-dependent diabetes, the immune system destroys insulin-producing cells. Recent research advances include the identification of markers that signal the onset of insulin-dependent diabetes years before it occurs—a discovery that may one day make early intervention possible.
Progress also has been made in unraveling the puzzle of non-insulindependent diabetes, with indications that this form of diabetes is actually many diseases with different causes related to cellular abnormalities. In this area of research, scientists are developing and applying the tools needed to examine what happens in diabetes at the cellular level. Basic and clinical research advances have significantly reduced diabetes-related deaths and have improved the quality of life for people with diabetes.
Nevertheless, much needs to be done before the cure and prevention of diabetes and its complications become a reality. The Federal Government, in cooperation with voluntary and professional health organizations, is continuing to conduct research aimed at eliminating diabetes as a threat to the health of present and future generations. To enhance public understanding of diabetes and to recognize the efforts of those working to eliminate this public health problem, the con-103 STAT. 3160gress, by Senate Joint Resolution 131, has designated the month of November 1989 as “National Diabetes Month” and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this month.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the month of November 1989 as National Diabetes Month. I call upon concerned Government agencies, public and private organizations, and the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set by hand this fifteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fourteenth.
GEORGE BUSH 6069 November 15, 1989 Community Foundation Week, 1989 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 6069 of November 15, 1989 Community Foundation Week, 1989 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Throughout our Nation’s history, individual Americans have voluntarily joined together to meet important needs in their communities. This generosity, this willingness to work together toward a common goal, is a hallmark of the American character.
Today, private voluntary associations across the country make substantial contributions to our Nation’s well-being in areas such as health care and social services, education and the arts, economic development, and environmental protection. Many of these associations are community foundations—charitable organizations formed to attract and distribute endowment funds. Directed by volunteers, community foundations provide effective leadership in communities throughout the United States, often supplementing or assisting in the coordination of public programs and other private services.
They are one of the fastest growing forms of philanthropy in the United States. In grateful recognition of our Nation’s charitable organizations and the concerned individuals who donate their time, talent, and material resources to them, the Congress, by House Joint Resolution 425, has designated the week of November 12 through 18, 1989, as “Community Foundation Week” and has requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this week. NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH.
President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the week of November 12 through November 18, 1989, as Community Foundation Week. I call upon the people of the United States to observe the week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. 103 STAT. 3161 IN WITNESS WHEREOF. I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fourteenth.
GEORGE BUSH 6070 November 15, 1989 National Farm-City Week, 1989 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 6070 of November 15, 1989 National Farm-City Week, 1989 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Each year, during the week of Thanksgiving, we Americans pause to express our gratitude for the safe and abundant supply of food with which we have been blessed. This plenty has been brought to our tables not only by farmers, but also by many others who play vital roles in our agricultural production and distribution system.
As we observe this 35th annual National Farm-City Week, we recognize these hardworking Americans for their important contributions to our Nation’s well-being. Our Nation’s farmers are assisted in their work by the manufacturers and suppliers of equipment, seeds, and fertilizers; by those who transport and process the fruits of their labor; and by those who distribute and sell their final products in our rural towns and in our cities. The cooperative efforts of farmers and those who serve in farming-related industries enable American consumers to enjoy a rich variety of affordable, high-quality foodstuffs.
This rural-urban bond is being steadily strengthened as more and more American farmers become suppliers of not only food and fiber, but also a growing list of raw materials for new industrial uses. These materials include grains for ethanol fuels designed to improve our Nation’s air quality, as well as starches for biodegradable plastics designed to reduce harmful wastes in the environment. Americans are not the only beneficiaries of our fanners’ efforts, however. Constituting less than 2 percent of the population, American farmers produce food and fiber for the rest of the country and much of the world as well.
One-fifth of their production is marketed abroad. These exports provide needed agricultural goods to people in other nations while improving the United States’ balance of trade. These exports also stimulate industrial growth and commerce. Because all Americans, and millions of people around the world, benefit from the work of farmers and persons in farming-related industries, it is fitting that we honor them in a special way during this week of Thanksgiving. NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim the week of November 17 through November 23, 1989, as National Farm-City Week I call upon all Americans, in rural areas and cities alike, to join in recogniz-103 STAT. 3162ing the accomplishments of our Nations’s farmers and all those who cooperate in producing the abundance of agricultural goods that enrich and strengthen the United States.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fourteenth. GEORGE BUSH 6071 November 15, 1989 National Philanthropy Day, 1989 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 6071 of November 15, 1989 National Philanthropy Day, 1989 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Noting the American people’s willingness to work together in order to assist a neighbor or improve their communities, the great French social philosopher, Alexis de Tocqueville, once asked, “What political power could ever carry on the vast multitude of lesser undertakings which the American citizens perform every day, with the assistance of the principle of association?” This spirit of voluntary association and service to others continues to be a proud portion of the American character.
Today, nonprofit philanthropic organizations in the United States number in the hundreds of thousands. These organizations employ millions of people, many of them volunteers. The American people give generously to all of them—not only through financial contributions but also through regular donations of their time, talents, and material resources. Today, we recognize and salute the outstanding work done by members of our Nation’s philanthropic organizations. Through their schools, churches, local museums, cultural centers, youth groups, hospitals, research institutions, and many other organizations, millions of concerned Americans are generously serving others.
Whether bringing aid and comfort to the sick, the elderly, and the disadvantaged, or providing rewarding educational and recreational opportunities for everyone, these individuals are illustrating that there is no better exercise for the human heart than reaching out and lifting someone else up. In recognition of all those who lead, staff, and support our Nation’s charitable organizations, the Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 86, has designated November 17, 1989, as “National Philanthropy Day” and has requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this day.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim November 17, 1989, as National Philanthropy Day. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-103 STAT. 3163nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fourteenth.
GEORGE BUSH 6072 November 16, 1989 Hunger Education Month, 1989 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 6072 of November 16, 1989 Hunger Education Month, 1989 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Famines create headlines. When famine strikes in any region of the world, millions of people rally to help those at risk of starving to death. Chronic hunger, however, often receives far less attention, even though millions of people around the world suffer daily from its effects.
Hunger is particularly acute in a number of less developed countries where food supplies have been depleted by poverty, political strife, and civil war. Over the years, the American people have responded generously to the needs of those affected by famine and chronic hunger. The United States has not only met but exceeded its pledge to the international Food Aid Convention. Through U.S. Food for Peace and other programs, Americans provided more than half of all the grain shipped worldwide through food aid programs during the year that ended in June—more than all other contributing nations combined.
However, we know that contributions of food alone will not provide a lasting solution to chronic hunger. As the ancient proverb so eloquently reminds us, “Give a man a fish, and you have fed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish, and you have fed him for a lifetime.” Poverty and hunger cannot be eliminated simply by donations of food. The development of free market economies also plays a vital role. The United States is working to alleviate hunger in poor nations by encouraging the development of policies that harness the power of individual initiative and free enterprise.
We are working to help these countries increase their food production, and we are exploring ways to help them generate sufficient revenues to buy, store, and distribute essential agricultural goods. If our Nation is to remain responsive to the needs of those who suffer from hunger, and if we are to continue to use our resources effectively in the fight against it, all Americans need to understand its causes and effects. Our schools and community organizations can play vital roles in heightening public awareness of world hunger by conducting educational programs designed to examine this tragic problem and the means we can use to help solve it.
To focus attention on the importance of education in the fight against world hunger, the Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 198. has designated the month of November 1989 as “An End to Hunger Education Month” and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this month. 103 STAT. 3164 NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the month of November 1989 as Hunger Education Month. I urge all Americans to take time to study the problem of world hunger and discover how they can help alleviate it.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fourteenth. GEORGE BUSH 6073 November 17, 1989 Thanksgiving Day, 1989 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 6073 of November 17, 1989 Thanksgiving Day, 1989 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation On Thanksgiving Day, we Americans pause as a Nation to give thanks for the freedom and prosperity with which we have been blessed by our Creator.
Like the pilgrims who first settled in this land, we offer praise to God for His goodness and generosity and rededicate ourselves to lives of service and virtue in His sight. This annual observance of Thanksgiving was a cherished American tradition even before our first President, George Washington, issued the first Presidential Thanksgiving proclamation in 1789. In his First Inaugural Address, President Washington observed that “No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than those of the United States.
” He noted that the American people—blessed with victory in their fight for Independence and with an abundance of crops in their fields—owed God “some return of pious gratitude.” Later, in a confidential note to his close advisor, James Madison, he asked, “should the sense of the Senate be taken on . . . a day of Thanksgiving” George Washington thus led the way to a Joint Resolution of Congress requesting the President to set aside “a day of public Thanksgiving and Prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal Favors of Almighty God.
” Through the eloquent words of President Washington’s initial Thanksgiving proclamation—the first under the Constitution—we are reminded of our dependence upon our Heavenly Father and of the debt of gratitude we owe to Him. “It is the Duty of all Nations,” wrote Washington, “to acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God, to obey his Will, to be grateful for his Benefits, and humbly to implore His Protection and Favor.” President Washington asked that on Thanksgiving Day the people of the United States: unite in rendering unto [God] our sincere and humble Thanks for his kind Care and Protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation; for . . . the great degree of Tranquility, Union and Plenty which we have since enjoyed; for . . . the civil and religious Liberty with which we are blessed, and . . . for all the great and various Favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us. 103 STAT. 3165 Two hundred years later, we continue to offer thanks to the Almighty— not only for the material prosperity that our Nation enjoys, but also for the blessings of peace and freedom.
Our Nation has no greater treasures than these. As we pause to acknowledge the kindnesses God has shown to us— and, indeed. His gift of life itself—we do so in a spirit of humility as well as gratitude. When the United States was still a fledgling democracy, President Washington asked the American people to unite in prayer to the “great Lord and Ruler of Nations,” in order to: beseach him to pardon our national and other Transgressions: to enable us all. whether in public or private Stations, to perform our several and relative Duties properly and punctually; to render our national Government a Blessing to all the People, by constantly being a Government of wise, just and constitutional Laws. discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations . . . and to bless them with good Government.
Peace and Concord. Today, we, too, pause on Thanksgiving with humble and contrite hearts, mindful of God’s mercy and forgiveness and of our continued need for His protection and guidance. On this day, we also remember that one gives praise to God not only through prayers of Thanksgiving, but also through obedience to His commandments and service to others, especially those lees fortunate than ourselves. While some Presidents followed Washington’s precedent, and some State Governors did as well.
President Lincoln—despite being faced with the dark specter of civil war—renewed the practice of proclaiming a national day of Thanksgiving. This venerable tradition has been sustained by every President since then, in times of strife as well as times of peace and prosperity. Today, we continue to offer thanks and praise to our Creator, that “Great Author of every public and private good,” for the many blessings He has bestowed upon us. In so doing, we recall the timeless words of the 100th Psalm:
Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting: and His troth endureth to all generations. NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 23, 1989, as a National Day of Thanksgiving, and I call upon the American people to gather together in homes and places of worship on that day of thanks to affirm by their prayers and their gratitude the many blessings God has bestowed upon us and our Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seven-teenth day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fourteenth. GEORGE BUSH Editorial Note: For the President’s remarks of Nov. 17, 1989. on signing Proclamation 8073. see the *Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents* (vol. 25. p. 1766). 6074 November 20, 1989 National Military Families Recognition Day, 1989 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation