Proclamation 4115.

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86 Stat. 1613 PROCLAMATION 4115 National Week of Concern for Americans who are Prisoners of War or Missing in ActionMarch 10, 1972 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation 1,623 American servicemen and some 50 U.S. civilians are now either missing in action or being held captive by North Vietnam and its allies. At the end of this month, the first men to be taken prisoner will begin their ninth year in captivity. This is the longest internment ever endured by American fighting men; it is also one of the most brutal.

The POW/MIA story of this long and difficult war is a tragic one: The enemy continues adamant in his refusal even to identify all the Americans being held. He continues to flout the Geneva Prisoner of War Convention which establishes minimum humane standards for treatment[6 UST 3316](/us/ust/t6/s3316). of prisoners—a treaty to which North Vietnam is a signatory, just as are South Vietnam and the United States and 128 other nations. He continues to block impartial inspection of the prison camps.

He continues to deny repatriation for seriously sick and wounded prisoners. He continues to ignore the prisoners’ right to regular correspondence with their families. And so those families suffer in spirit hardly less than their men suffer in the flesh. They live in a nightmare of unremitting anguish and gnawing concern. Many cannot even know whether their loved ones are still alive; those who do know this much, must live with their additional knowledge of the cruel conditions in which the prisoners exist.

Each new chapter in this outrage has stiffened the American people’s determination to see justice done. We have stood and will continue to stand united as a nation in our concern and compassion for the prisoners and missing men. We mean to see this matter through. Concern for the prisoners’ plight, moreover, has spread to the people of goodwill around the world-—and we may be confident that their humanitarian efforts, though so far rebuffed as callously as our own, will still continue as steadfastly as our own. 86 Stat. 1614 The United States has spared no effort—by diplomacy, by negotiation, by every other means—to secure fair treatment of our captive sons and brothers and to obtain their ultimate freedom.

As we set aside a special week of national concern for this continuing tragedy, and a special day of prayer for its resolution, we do so with a determination to persist in this effort—for principle, for peace, for the sake of these brave men and their parents and brothers and sisters and wives and the children some have never seen. NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICHARD NIXON, President of the United States of America, as requested by the Congress in Senate Joint *Ante*, p. 61.Resolution 189, do hereby designate the period of March 26 through April 1, 1972, as National Week of Concern for Prisoners of War/ Missing in Action, and Sunday, March 26, 1972, as a National Day of Prayer for the lives and safety of these men.

I call upon all the people of the United States to observe this week with such appropriate ceremonies and activities as will stir and sustain widespread concern for the missing men and prisoners, nourish the patient courage of their loved ones, and—above all—hasten the day of their safe return to home and freedom. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of March, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred seventy-two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred ninety-sixth. 4116 March 13, 1972 International Book Year, 1972 Digitization Vendor By The President of the United States of America Proclamation PROCLAMATION 4116 International Book Year, 1972March 13, 1972 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Books and libraries are among mankind’s greatest sources of enlightenment.

They contain the cultural inheritance of our forefathers and the core of our educational system. In the words of Thomas Carlyle: “All that Mankind has done, thought, gained or been; it is lying as in magic preservation in the pages of Books.” As this Nation approaches the beginning of its third century, we should remind ourselves that nothing in our heritage is more precious than the 86 Stat. 1615right to express ourselves freely on any subject and the right of access to the expressions of others.

Today, with high-speed presses, mass distribution of printed matter, and well-stocked libraries, we may carelessly assume that the knowledge contained in books is equally available to all Americans. But the right to read requires more than just the availability of books. It also requires the ability to read. In spite of our commitment to the concept of universal education, millions of our citizens are still so deficient in reading skills that the covers of books are closed to them.

It is incumbent upon all who desire a better America, public officials and private citizens alike, to help improve both our intellectual resources and the free flow of information within and across our national boundaries. First, we must abolish functional illiteracy so that all our citizens, rich and poor alike, will have a better chance to learn from the accumulated wisdom of man. This is the goal of our “Right to Read” program, and to achieve it we must not only eliminate the existing reading and literacy deficiencies of today, but also reform our educational institutions so that these problems will not reoccur tomorrow.

Second, we must continue to foster the growth of learning and culture by protecting intellectual production through copyright. During the course of this year, the United States and other member countries of the Universal Copyright Convention will be considering adherence to the[6 UST 2731](/us/ust/t6/s2731). 1971 revisions of the Universal Copyright Convention, which strengthen international copyright protection for American works and assist developing countries to meet their need for educational materials.

At the same time, we should continue our efforts in this country to modernize our own copyright laws. In recognition of the importance of books in our society, and the observance by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization of the year 1972 as International Book Year, the Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 149 of December 15, 1971, has requested[35 Stat. 647](/us/stat/35/647). the President to issue a proclamation designating 1972 as International Book Year.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICHARD NIXON, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim 1972 as International Book Year in the United States. I call upon the people of the United States, interested groups and organizations, appropriate officials of the Federal Government and of State and local governments to provide for the observance of International Book Year with appropriate ceremonies and activities. 86 Stat. 1616 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred seventy-two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred ninety-sixth. 4117 March 18, 1972 National Wildlife Week Digitization Vendor By The President of the United States of America Proclamation PROCLAMATION 4117 National Wildlife WeekMarch 18, 1972 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation For much of our history, Americans have confronted nature as a hostile force to be reckoned with and overcome.

The wild creatures of forest and plains, mountains and swamp, were seen as threats to human life and progress on the edge of the wilderness. They were beaten back or disposed of accordingly. More recently, Americans have come to see wild animals as co-inhabitants of a small planet, fellow creatures who have a rightful place in a healthy natural environment. Ecologist, philosopher, and outdoors-man alike have come to know the truth of Thoreau’s words, “In Wilderness is the preservation of the World.

” Men and animals can and must share the earth. The various forms of wildlife which give life and variety and beauty to the environment can and must be recognized, appreciated, and protected. But the hour is late, and the time to act is now. Already some species of wildlife have been extinguished forever, and many others have been sharply reduced in numbers. Economically, we can now afford to take humane action to reverse this tragic trend. Morally and esthetically, we cannot afford to do otherwise.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICHARD NIXON, President of the United States of America, do hereby designate the week beginning March 19, 1972, as National Wildlife Week. I call upon all our citizens to join during that week in support of the many organizations dedicated to preserving a suitable environment for the greatest possible number of wildlife species. In particular, I urge broad public support for, and prompt congressional action on, my recent proposals for better protection of endangered species. 86 Stat. 1617 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred seventy-two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred ninety-sixth. 4118 March 22, 1972 Loyalty Day, 1972 Digitization Vendor By The President of the United States of America Proclamation PROCLAMATION 4118 Loyalty Day, 1972March 22, 1972 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands . . .

” From earliest school days most Americans know these words as they know their own names. They constitute a solemn promise of loyalty signed in the heart and paid off life-long in the currency of daily deeds, great and small—from the ultimate sacrifice of the soldier, to the conscientious vote of the citizen, to the productive labor of the working man or woman and the precious trust of the parent. Once again this May 1, we pause as a nation to ask ourselves how we can live our loyalty better.

Loyalty Day, although a far newer national observance than Independence Day, is in a sense equally important. Our July 4 celebration of the “unalienable rights” which America owes to each of us has meaning only as we balance it with lively awareness of the unalienable allegiance which each of us in turn owes to America. NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICHARD NIXON, President of the United States of America, in accordance with the joint resolution of the Congress of July 18, 1958, do call upon the people of the United States,[72 Stat. 369](/us/stat/72/369).[36 USC 162](/us/usc/t36/s162). and upon all patriotic, civic and educational organizations, to observe Monday, May 1, 1972, as Loyalty Day, with appropriate ceremonies in schools and other suitable places.

I further call upon appropriate officials of the Government to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on that day in witness of our “allegiance. . . to the Republic for which it stands.” IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 22nd day of March, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred seventy-two, 86 Stat. 1618and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred ninety-sixth. 4119 March 24, 1972 Earth Week, 1972 Digitization Vendor By The President of the United States of America Proclamation PROCLAMATION 4119 Earth Week, 1972March 24, 1972 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation For the Nation and for the world, there are few issues of greater moment than the quality of our environment.

As civilizations have evolved, man has increasingly altered his world to accommodate his needs. Today, our immense tehnological expansion affects the earth more than at any earlier time. The air, water, and natural resources of the earth are not inexhaustible, yet we continue to make major and often contradictory demands on these resources. If man is to preserve the natural heritage upon which his survival and the quality of his life depend, he must make resolute choices and fix uncompromising priorities.

The environmental awakening of recent years marks a new maturity in our attitudes toward the relationship of man to his surroundings. We have made a beginning, but it is only a beginning. Every American—and indeed, every citizen of the world—must endeavor by earnest and sustained effort to nurture this earth which we all share. NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICHARD NIXON, President of the United States of America, do hereby designate the period of April 17 through April 23, 1972, as Earth Week.

I call upon appropriate officials of the Federal Government and of State and local governments to encourage an understanding of the purposes of Earth Week, to observe the week through appropriate ceremonies, and to give special attention to the educating of our citizens in the preservation and enrichment of our natural environment. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred seventy-two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred ninety-sixth. 4120 April 4, 1972 Cancer Control Month, 1972 Digitization Vendor By The President of the United States of America Proclamation

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