Proclamation 6379.
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105 STAT. 2754 Proclamation 6379 of November 22, 1991 National Military Families Recognition Day, 1991 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation We Americans take great pride in the vigilance, courage, and patriotism of the men and women who serve in our United States Armed Forces. Yet, in large part, the extraordinary spirit of our Nation’s service members reflects that of the families who stand behind them. Thus, while we salute our troops for their outstanding efforts to preserve peace and to protect the vital interests of the United States, on this occasion we honor in a special way our Nation’s military families.
Each day, these Americans share in the hard work of freedom. The military family is a very large and special one. It includes tens of thousands of wives, husbands, parents, siblings, and children. Located in every State and in countries around the globe, these families are the heart of the American defense community. They have stood together in times of trial and uncertainty; they have opened their arms to newcomers and to neighbors in need; and they have offered steady moral support to our forces stationed far from home.
Brought together by the service of their loved ones, these families embody the love, faith, and devotion to freedom that have sustained our men and women in uniform, even through this Nation’s darkest hours. Whether they live on bases here at home or at posts in Europe, the Pacific, and elsewhere, military families are united by common experience—including the experience of hardship and sacrifice. For example, reassignments often require service members and their dependents to move, leaving behind schools, friends, and jobs.
Although such moves may consist of relocation to unfamiliar towns or even to foreign lands, military families weather the challenges with perseverance and pride. Because they recognize the risks that their loved ones have accepted in the line of duty, and because a service member’s assignments can entail lengthy absences from home, military families also cope with long hours of separation and worry. During the past year, our Nation was reminded of all that military families have endured over the years when more than 500,000 service personnel were activated, both here and abroad, to take part in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, as well as during U.S. humanitarian efforts in Operations Provide Comfort in northern Iraq and Sea Angel in Bangladesh.
The stoicism and the patriotism displayed by America’s military families during the conflict in the Persian Gulf uplifted and inspired our entire country. More recently, hundreds of American military families responded with exemplary courage and composure when they were evacuated from their homes in the Philippines following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo. Throughout our Nation’s history, military families have demonstrated their pride in service and their profound faith in the principles on which the United States is founded.
Today we assure these Americans of our abiding gratitude, respect, and support. The Congress, by House Joint Resolution 215, has designated November 25, 1991, as “National Military Families Recognition Day” and has au-105 STAT. 2755thorized 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 25, 1991, as National Military Families Recognition Day. I urge all Americans to join in honoring America’s military families on that day.
Finally, I call upon Federal, State, and local officials, as well as concerned private organizations, to observe the day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-second day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and sixteenth. GEORGE BUSH 6380 November 25, 1991 Thanksgiving Day, 1991 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 6380 of November 25, 1991 Thanksgiving Day, 1991 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation From the moment it was “conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal,” our Nation has enjoyed the mercy and protection of Almighty God.
Thus, when we join with family and friends on Thanksgiving, we celebrate not only the many blessings that we have received as individuals—including the gift of life itself— but also our great fortune as one Nation under God. On this occasion, Americans of every race, creed, and walk of life are united by a profound sense of gratitude and duty. As we continue the Thanksgiving tradition, a tradition cherished by every generation of Americans, we reflect in a special way on the blessings of the past year.
When this Nation and its coalition partners took up arms in a last-resort effort to repel aggression in the Persian Gulf, we were spared the terrible consequences of a long and protracted struggle. Indeed, the millions of people who prayed for a quick end to the fighting saw those prayers answered with a swiftness and certainty that exceeded all expectations. During the past year, we have also witnessed the demise of communism and welcomed millions of courageous people into the community of free nations.
Of course, as we give thanks for these and other developments, we also remember the less fortunate—those who do not yet share in the promise of freedom; those who do not know the comfort of peace and security; and those whose tables do not reflect prosperity and plenty. Time and again, Scripture describes our Creator’s special love for the poor. As the Psalmist wrote, “He pours contempt upon princes . . . yet sets the poor on high from affliction.” In this great Nation, we have a special obligation to care for the ill and the destitute.
Therefore, recalling that much will be asked of those to whom much has been given, let us resolve to make food drives and other forms of charity an increasingly important part of our Thanksgiving tradition. 105 STAT. 2756 On this occasion, as we count our blessings and reach out to help the less fortunate, we also do well to remember that, in many ways, the poorest nations are those who neither recognize nor revere what our Founders called “the laws of Nature and of Nature’s God.
” Indeed, we have seen totalitarian regimes impoverish entire peoples, not just economically, but spiritually, by denigrating religion and by denying the inherent dignity and worth of individuals. The moral bankruptcy of communism should remind every free nation of the dangers of cynicism and materialism. Similarly, can any individual be truly rich or truly satisfied if he or she has not discovered the rewards of service to one’s fellowman? Since most of us first experience the love of God through the goodness and generosity of others, what better gift could we give our children than a positive example? Finally, as we gather with family and friends on Thanksgiving, we know that our greatest blessings are not necessarily material ones.
Indeed, perhaps the best thing about this occasion is that it reminds us that God loves each and every one of us. Like a faithful and loving parent, He always stands ready to comfort, guide, and forgive. That is our *real* cause for Thanksgiving, today and every day of our lives. NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 28, 1991, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I urge all Americans to gather together in their homes and in places of worship on that day to offer thanks to Almighty God for the many blessings that He has bestowed upon us as individuals and as a Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and sixteenth. GEORGE BUSH 6381 November 25, 1991 National Accessible Housing Month, 1991 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 6381 of November 25, 1991 National Accessible Housing Month, 1991 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation We Americans cherish the many blessings that we enjoy in this land of freedom and opportunity—including our ability to decide where we live and work.
During much of our Nation’s history, however, that prerogative has frequently been denied to persons with disabilities. For example, in the past, it has often been difficult for a person who uses a wheelchair to find a home where doorways, baths, and other structural features can accommodate his or her needs. Even now, when an elderly American can no longer climb stairs, he or she may face the emotionally and financially difficult task of finding a suitable single-story dwelling. 105 STAT. 2757 Fortunately, all that is changing.
In recent years, we have taken important steps to promote equal opportunities for people with disabilities. The Fair Housing Amendments Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing, went into effect in 1989. This legislation provides Americans with disabilities the opportunity to choose their places of residence with the same degree of freedom as other citizens. The enactment of the historic Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 offered additional evidence of our commitment to removing the physical, attitudinal, and statutory barriers that have too often prevented these individuals from enjoying the same opportunities as other Americans.
This legislation, the world’s first comprehensive declaration of equality for persons with disabilities, prohibits discrimination in employment, transportation, and public accommodations. Clearly, our Nation has recognized its obligation to become more conscious of, and responsive to, the environmental and structural obstacles that persons with disabilities face on a daily basis. However, we also have a practical interest in doing so: indeed, it is estimated that 70 percent of all Americans will, at some time in their lives, have a temporary or permanent disability.
While the Federal Government has been leading efforts to ensure equal opportunity for persons with disabilities, the public and private sectors share responsibility for promoting the full integration of these Americans into the social and economic mainstream. It is heartening to note that thousands of concerned individuals and organizations have been working together to meet that responsibility. For example, a number of private sector entities have designed a public education campaign that answers questions about barrier-free home designs, which allow easy entry and movement throughout the house.
On March 6, 1991, the Department of Housing and Urban Development published “Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines,” which instruct builders and developers on how to comply with the accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Amendments Act. Public and private sector efforts such as these are not only helping to create more accessible housing for persons with disabilities but also facilitating their full participation in the social and economic life of our country. The Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 184, has designated the month of November 1991 as “National Accessible Housing 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 designate November 1991 as National Accessible Housing Month. I call upon local and State governments, appropriate Federal agencies, and the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and sixteenth.
GEORGE BUSH 6382 November 25, 1991 National Family Caregivers Week, 1991 and 1992 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation