Proclamation 5057.

1,450 words·~7 min read·/statutes-at-large/vol-97/proclamation-5057·

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

97 STAT. 1583 Proclamation 5057 of April 29, 1983 National Year of Voluntarism By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Voluntarism is a cornerstone of the American way of life and a fundamental characteristic of our American heritage. The generosity and civic-mindedness of the American people has long been a noted aspect of our Nation. Since its inception, this has been a country in which neighbor has lent a hand to neighbor, and families have banded together to help one another in times of adversity.

Voluntary service remains as important today as it was in earlier decades. We cannot rely solely on institutions of government to provide remedies for our problems. Many of the solutions must be devised and supported by other individuals and private groups. Greater emphasis must be placed on developing increased community commitment to voluntary service and on developing more volunteer leaders. NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, in recognition of the vital contributions volunteers make to our society, do hereby designate the period beginning on May 1, 1983 until April 30, 1984 as the National Year of Voluntarism, and I call upon the people of the United States and interested groups and organizations to observe this celebration with appropriate activities of voluntary service and efforts to attract additional persons to this valuable and rewarding tradition.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of April, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and seventh. RONALD REAGAN 5058 May 6, 1983 Older Americans Month, 1983 Digitization Vendor By The President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 5058 of May 6, 1983 Older Americans Month, 1983 By The President of the United States of America A Proclamation Throughout our history, the American people have held a special place in their hearts for our older citizens.

From this Nation’s earliest days, when the wisdom and eloquence of our elder statesmen played such an important role in the creation of our Republic, to this era of renewed private sector initiative, where so many of our senior citizens toil in volunteer armies of community service across the land, older Americans remain a vital force in our national life. 97 STAT. 1584 We recognize that no single group in our society has done more to build America and to shape our national character than our nearly thirty-three million older citizens.

We treasure their continuing involvement and the unique understanding they bring to us. Their wisdom, experience, insights, and accomplishments merit an invaluable place in our culture and economy. Through hard work and creativity, our older Americans have made enormous contributions throughout their lives to preserve our way of life and our standard of living. Now we must keep faith with them. It is our responsibility to protect them by reducing inflation—that monster which eats at savings and pensions and destroys the independence and well-being of our older Americans.

Of particular importance to our older citizens is the integrity of their pension funds. The recent rise in business confidence and the resulting surge in the net worth of investments have significantly increased the value of America’s pension funds. These developments remind us that the most important step we can take for all Americans, but especially our senior citizens, is to follow economic policies that will create noninflationary growth. It is also our responsibility to keep faith with our older citizens by guaranteeing a secure and stable social security system so they might live in dignity. [42 USC 1305](/us/usc/t42/s1305).The recent amendments to the Social Security Act assure the elderly that America will always uphold the promises made in troubled times a half-century ago.

The future of our older Americans should be as sweet as the memories of their youth. I believe the future for our older citizens holds as much promise as the achievements of their past. In this twenty-first annual observance of Older Americans Month, we celebrate that potential. NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the month of May 1983 as Older Americans Month. I ask public officials at all levels, community agencies, educators, the clergy, the communications media, and the American people to take this opportunity to honor older Americans and to consider how we may make it possible for them to enjoy their later years.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and seventh. RONALD REAGAN 5059 May 10, 1983 Flag Day and National Flag Week, 1983 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 5059 of May 10, 1983 Flag Day and National Flag Week, 1983 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Two hundred eight years ago, the first distinctive American flags were flown over the colonial defenses during the Battle of Bunker Hill.

One flag 97 STAT. 1585was an adaptation of the British Blue Ensign while the other had a new design. Both flags bore a pine tree, symbol of the struggle colonial Americans undertook to wrest their land from the forests. As the colonials moved toward a final separation from Britain, other flags with various symbols appeared to inform the world of the hopes, dreams, and challenges of the new Nation. Many of the early American flags carried such mottoes as “Liberty or Death” or “Don’t Tread on Me” to reflect the courage and quest for freedom which motivated our forefathers and gave birth to our Nation.

Two years after the Battle of Bunker Hill, the Continental Congress chose a flag which, tellingly, expressed the unity and resolve of the patriots who had banded together to seek independence. The delegates voted “that the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field representing a new constellation.” Two centuries later, with the addition of thirty-seven stars, this flag still symbolizes our shared commitment to freedom and equality.

It carries a message of hope to the downtrodden, opportunity to the oppressed, and peace to all mankind. As challenges face our Nation today, the “Stars and Stripes” continues to remind each of us of the sacrifices and determination which built this Nation. It signals the great land of opportunity that our forefathers carved out of the wilderness and gave their lives to make free so many years ago. Now it is our responsibility to remember the great price that has been paid to keep our flag flying free today and our privilege to ensure that it will keep flying free for future generations.

To commemorate the adoption of our flag, the Congress, by a joint resolution approved August 3, 1949 (63 Stat. 492), designated June 14 of each year [36 USC 157](/us/usc/t36/s157).as Flag Day and requested the President to issue an annual proclamation calling for its observance and the display of the flag of the United States on all Government buildings. The Congress also requested the President, by a joint resolution approved June 9, 1966 (80 Stat. 194), to issue annually a [36 USC 157a](/us/usc/t36/s157a).proclamation designating the week in which June 14 occurs as National Flag Week and calling upon all citizens of the United States to display the flag during that week.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, do hereby designate June 14, 1983, as Flag Day and the week beginning June 12, 1983, as National Flag Week, and I direct the appropriate officials of the Government to display the flag on all government buildings during that week. I urge all Americans to observe Flag Day, June 14, and National Flag Week by flying the “Stars and Stripes” from their homes and other suitable places. I also urge the American people to celebrate those days from Flag Day through Independence Day, set aside by Congress as a time to honor America (89 Stat. 211), by having public gatherings and activities at which they [36 USC 157b](/us/usc/t36/s157b).can honor their country in an appropriate manner.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of May, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and seventh. RONALD REAGAN 5060 May 11, 1983 National Amateur Baseball Month, 1983 Digitization Vendor By The President of the United States of America A Proclamation

Connectionstraces to 2

Traces to 2 documents

U.S. Code