Proclamation 5211.
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/statutes-at-large/vol-98/proclamation-5211·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
98 STAT. 3612 Proclamation 5211 of June 18, 1984 Federal Credit Union Week, 1984 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the passage of the Federal [12 USC 1751](/us/usc/t12/s1751).Credit Union Act of 1934 which enabled credit unions to be organized throughout the United States under charters approved by the Federal government. Credit unions are uniquely democratic economic organizations, founded on the principle that persons of good character and modest means, joining together in cooperative spirit and action, can promote thrift, create a source of credit for productive purposes, and build a better standard of living for themselves.
Because credit unions exemplify the traditional American values of thrift, self-help and voluntarism, they have carved a special place for themselves among the Nation’s financial institutions. Today, Federal credit unions are at their strongest point in history. They enter this, their 50th anniversary year, as the Nation’s fastest-growing financial institutions. As member-owned cooperatives, credit unions operate with the credo, “Not for profit, not for charity—but for service.
” Credit unions have maintained allegiance to this ideal and as a result have consistently reflected the philosophical tradition and the cooperative spirit of people helping people that prompted passage of the Federal Credit Union Act. *Ante*, p. 402. The Congress, by House Joint Resolution 139, has designated the week beginning June 24, 1984 as “Federal Credit Union Week” and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation calling for the observance of this occasion.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the week beginning June 24, 1984, as Federal Credit Union Week. I call upon the people of the United States to celebrate this week with appropriate ceremonies and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and eighth.
RONALD REAGAN 5212 June 18, 1984 Harmon Killebrew Day, 1984 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 5212 of June 18, 1984 Harmon Killebrew Day, 1984 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation On August 12, 1984, Harmon Killebrew will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. As a seventeen-year-old, Harmon Killebrew signed with the late Washington Senators and played with that franchise in the Nation’s Capital and after its transfer to Minnesota.
In an 98 STAT. 3613illustrious career, he hit 573 home runs, second only to Babe Ruth among all players in American League history. Harmon Killebrew was a member of the American League All–Star team on eleven occasions, and in 1969, he hit 49 home runs and batted in 140 runs and was named the American League’s Most Valuable Player. In honoring Harmon Killebrew, we recognize the accomplishments of the other baseball immortals enshrined in Cooperstown and the many contributions the sport has made to American culture and myth.
Harmon Killebrew is the latest in a lengthy list of players who, in the words of Justice Harry Blackmun of the United States Supreme Court, “have sparked the diamond and its environs and that have provided tinder for recaptured thrills, for reminiscence and comparisons, and for conversation and anticipation . . . and all other happenings, habits, and superstitions about and around baseball that have made it the ‘national pastime’ or, depending upon the point of view, ‘the great American tragedy’.
” The Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 285, has designated June 13, 1984, *Ante*, p. 243.as “Harmon Killebrew Day” and authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this event. NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim June 13, 1984, as Harmon Killebrew Day, and I call upon the people of the United States to observe that day with appropriate ceremonies and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and eighth.
RONALD REAGAN 5213 June 19, 1984 Minority Enterprise Development Week, 1984 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 5213 of June 19, 1984 Minority Enterprise Development Week, 1984 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation America’s growth and prosperity depend on the full participation of all its citizens. If we as a Nation are to remain the world’s leader in innovation, technology and productivity, we must ensure that all Americans are involved in our economic progress.
The fulfillment of this challenge has become more realistic today, because of the significant contributions of minority American entrepreneurs to our economy. The Nation’s 600,000 minority-owned businesses reveal the true meaning of entrepreneurship. They have emerged as a dynamic force in the marketplace, bringing innovative products and services to our economy, and constituting the principal source for jobs and training for thousands of American workers. As we enter an era of greatly expanded opportunities in economic growth and development, it is appropriate that we encourage minority business owners by recognizing their tremendous contributions toward the continued economic development of our Nation. 98 STAT. 3614 NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the week of October 7 through October 13, 1984, as Minority Enterprise Development Week, and I urge all Americans to join together with the minority business enterprises of our Nation in appropriate observances.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this nineteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and eighth. RONALD REAGAN 5214 June 22, 1984 Helen Keller Deaf–Blind Awareness Week, 1984 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 5214 of June 22, 1984 Helen Keller Deaf–Blind Awareness Week, 1984 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Our eyes and ears provide vital ways of interacting with the world around us.
The lilt of laughter, the beat of a brass band, the smile of a friend, and the poetry of a landscape are but a few of the life blessings that our senses of sight and hearing help us to enjoy. But for some 40.000 Americans who can neither see nor hear, the world can be a prison of darkness and silence. Inadequate education, training, and rehabilitation for those who are deaf and blind may prevent these Americans from becoming independent and self-sufficient, thereby greatly limiting their life potential and imposing a high economic and social cost on the Nation.
We must prevent such problems among our deaf-blind citizens by fostering their independence, creating employment opportunities, and encouraging their contributions to our society. Crucial to fulfilling this urgent national need is research on the disorders that cause deafness and blindness. Toward this end, the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke and the National Eye Institute as well as a number of voluntary health agencies are supporting a wide range of investigative projects that one day may provide the clues to curing and preventing these devastating disorders.
On June 27 we commemorate the 104th anniversary of the birth of Helen Keller, America’s most renowned and respected deaf-blind person. Her accomplishments serve as a beacon of courage and hope for our Nation, symbolizing what deaf-blind people can achieve. In order to encourage public recognition of and compassion for the complex problems caused by deaf-blindness and to emphasize the potential contribution of deaf-blind persons to our Nation, the Congress, by Senate Joint *Ante*, p. 248.Resolution 261, has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation designating the last week in June 1984 as “Helen Keller Deaf–Blind Awareness Week.
” NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the week beginning June 24, 1984, as Helen Keller Deaf–Blind Awareness Week. I call upon all government agencies, health organizations, communications media, and people of the United States to observe this week with appropriate ceremonies and activities. 98 STAT. 3615 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-second day of June, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and eighth.
RONALD REAGAN 5215 June 27, 1984 1992 Chicago–Seville International Exposition Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 5215 of June 27, 1984 1992 Chicago–Seville International Exposition By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation In 1992, the United States and Spain will host an unprecedented joint world’s fair, the Chicago–Seville International Exposition. The exposition will celebrate the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ voyage of discovery from Spain to the Americas and will be the first world’s fair to be conducted simultaneously in two countries.
The theme of the world’s fair is the “Age of Discovery.” The exposition will showcase the immense social, economic, scientific and cultural achievements which have changed the world since 1492 and will preview the discoveries anticipated in the century to come. The event also will serve to symbolize the indomitable nature of the human spirit which fired Columbus to pursue his dream of a New World and which continues to inspire us as Americans in pursuit of our dream of democracy and freedom.
Chicago is an excellent site for this historic exposition. A global crossroads, Chicago already has hosted two successful world’s fairs—the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, which became the standard of comparison for subsequent fairs, and a Century of Progress Exposition of 1933–34, which helped lift the spirits of a battered people during the most severe depression in our history. The choice of Seville as a site is especially appropriate, for without the foresight and adventurous spirit of the King and Queen of Spain, Columbus would never have had an opportunity to undertake his catalytic voyage which changed the course of history.
The unique relationship between this great American city and Seville underlines the continuity of history in a new age of communications and transportation. By bridging the seas in 1992, Chicago and Seville once again will link the New World with the Old in the dawning of a truly new “Age of Discovery.” The 1992 Chicago–Seville International Exposition thus promises to become a symbol of international peace and progress, illuminating our past and our future. With its many splendid opportunities for the stimulation of trade and for cultural and technological exchange, the exposition has the enthusiastic support of the United States Government.
This Administration will extend the fullest possible recognition to the event in accordance with the Paris Convention of November 22, 1928, as modified, and United States law. NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, in recognition of the 1992 Chicago–Seville International Exposition, do hereby invite the several States of the Union and its Territories to participate in the exposition, and authorize and direct the Secretary of State to invite, on my behalf, such foreign countries as he may consider appropriate to participate in this event. 98 STAT. 3616 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of June, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and eighth.
RONALD REAGAN 5216 July 3, 1984 National Duck Stamp Week Golden Anniversary Year of the Duck Stamp, 1984 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 5216 of July 3, 1984 National Duck Stamp Week Golden Anniversary Year of the Duck Stamp, 1984 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Among our most cherished wildlife resources are migratory waterfowl. The ducks, geese, and swans of North America not only fascinate us with their beauty and spectacle, they remind us of the continuing values of a clean, safe, wholesome environment.
The health of our waterfowl resources depends on the well-being of their environment. If the Nation’s wetlands are lost, these birds and the many other fish and wildlife resources they support cannot thrive. In recognition of the vital link between wildlife and wetlands, the United States has created an extensive system of National Wildlife Refuges. This great array of wild lands and waters provides countless opportunities for our waterfowl to nest and feed. We have so many of these refuges to enjoy today because of the farsighted practices of successive generations of Americans.
This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the passage of the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act. To implement this law, the first Duck Stamp was issued later that year. The Duck Stamp was the creation of Jay N. “Ding” Darling, an award-winning editorial cartoonist and pioneer conservationist. It was his idea that every waterfowl hunter in this country had a vital stake in wetland and waterfowl conservation and that each should share in the responsibility to maintain that wildlife tradition they held so dear.
In the 50 years that have passed since the introduction of the Duck Stamp, it has become one of the Nation’s most successful conservation programs. Almost 90 million of the stamps have been sold, generating more than $285 million for waterfowl conservation. All or part of 186 National Wildlife Refuges—a total of 3.5 million acres—have been acquired through Duck Stamp revenues. In the last 50 years, Americans have become increasingly aware that wetlands provide essential habitat for ducks and geese and contribute significantly to other wildlife resources including endangered species, open space recreation, commercial and sport fisheries, flood control, groundwater recharge and water purification.
A recent study by the Department of the Interior concluded that the United States is losing wetlands at the pace of nearly one-half million acres every year, an area the size of the State of Rhode Island. Clearly, the Duck Stamp program is as important today as it was in 1934. In recognition of the contributions of the Duck Stamp program, the Congress, *Ante*, p. 311.by Senate Joint Resolution 270, has designated the week of July 1 through July 8, 1984, as “National Duck Stamp Week” and 1984 as “Golden Anniversary Year of the Duck Stamp” and authorized and requested the President to issue an appropriate proclamation. 98 STAT. 3617 NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the week of July 1 through July 8, 1984, as National Duck Stamp Week and 1984 as the Golden Anniversary Year of the Duck Stamp.
I urge all Americans to observe these occasions with appropriate ceremonies and events, including participating in this program. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of July, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and eighth. RONALD REAGAN **Editorial note**: For the President’s remarks of July 3, 1984, on the commemoration of the 50th year of the Duck Stamp, see the *Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents* (vol. 20, p. 966). 5217 July 5, 1984 Veterans’ Preference Month, 1984 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 5217 of July 5, 1984 Veterans’ Preference Month, 1984 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Forty years ago—on June 27, 1944—President Franklin D.
Roosevelt signed into law the Veterans’ Preference Act. This statute brought together, for the [58 Stat. 387](/us/stat/58/387).first time, laws, Executive orders, and regulations extending back to the Civil War which granted preference in Federal employment to veterans. The primary purpose and philosophy of the Veterans’ Preference Acts are to assist veterans in obtaining and retaining Federal jobs for which they qualify. They constitute not only a means of rewarding veterans for their service in the Armed Forces, but also a means of preventing them from being penalized, in the search for employment, by the fact that the months or years they spent in the service of their country isolated them from the civilian world.
In recognition of the economic disadvantage suffered by this service, these Acts seek to give these veterans a favorable position in competing for Federal employment. At the same time, the veterans’ preference laws have been drafted so that they are compatible with the merit principle of public employment. Veterans’ preference is but a partial recognition of the great debt of gratitude that the country owes to those who have served in the Armed Forces. Its success is evidenced by the fact that 40 years after World War II, 30 years after Korea and 10 years after Vietnam, veterans comprise 39 percent of the non–Postal Federal work force and 52 percent of the Postal work force.
In recognition of the fortieth anniversary of the Veterans’ Preference Act, and to honor the men and women who have served their country in the Armed Forces, the Congress of the United States, by Senate Joint Resolution 297, has designated June 1984 as “Veterans’ Preference Month,” and *Ante*, p. 281.has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of that month. NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim June 1984 as Veterans’ Preference Month.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of July, 98 STAT. 3618in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and ninth. RONALD REAGAN 5218 July 9, 1984 African Refugees Relief Day, 1984 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 5218 of July 9, 1984 African Refugees Relief Day, 1984 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation The United States and the American people have a long and proud tradition of helping those who are in need.
In Africa, the needs of refugees cry out for continued attention. So, too, do the needs of the host countries who, despite their own limited resources, have accepted the refugees in the best tradition of humanitarian concern. Their generosity has led them to make great sacrifices. We in the United States are mindful of the burdens that are borne by the refugees and their host countries. We are dedicated to the cause of meeting their needs now and in the future. We fervently hope that the Second International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa, which begins July 9, 1984, will lead to a sustained effort by the international community to help African countries effectively cope with the refugee burden.
Our own efforts have been and will continue to be in support of the African refugees and their host countries. In order to heighten awareness in the United States of the needs of Africa’s refugees and the needs of their host countries, the Congress, by H.J. Res. *Ante*, p. 327.604, has designated July 9, 1984, as “African Refugees Relief Day” and has requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of that day. As we reflect on the situation of refugees and their host countries, I hope Americans will be generous in their support of voluntary agencies that provide relief and development assistance to Africa.
Further, I wish special consideration be given to the extraordinary hardships borne by women refugees, their children, and other vulnerable groups. The innocent victims of civil strife and war deserve our special concern. NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim July 9, 1984, as African Refugees Relief Day. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of July, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and ninth.
RONALD REAGAN 5219 July 9, 1984 National Ice Cream Month and National Ice Cream Day, 1984 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 5219 of July 9, 1984 National Ice Cream Month and National Ice Cream Day, 1984 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Ice cream is a nutritious and wholesome food, enjoyed by over ninety percent of the people in the United States. It enjoys a reputation as the perfect 98 STAT. 3619dessert and snack food.
Over eight hundred and eighty-seven million gallons of ice cream were consumed in the United States in 1983. The ice cream industry generates approximately $3.5 billion in annual sales and provides jobs for thousands of citizens. Indeed, nearly ten percent of all the milk produced by the United States dairy farmers is used to produce ice cream, thereby contributing substantially to the economic well-being of the Nation’s dairy industry. The Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 298, has designated July 1984 as *Ante*, p. 290.“National Ice Cream Month,” and July 15, 1984, as “National Ice Cream Day,” and authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of these events.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim July 1984 as National Ice Cream Month and July 15, 1984, as National Ice Cream Day, and I call upon the people of the United States to observe these events with appropriate ceremonies and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and ninth.
RONALD REAGAN 5220 July 10, 1984 Food for Peace Day, 1984 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 5220 of July 10, 1984 Food for Peace Day, 1984 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation July 10, 1984, is the thirtieth anniversary of the signing of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 (Public Law 480). This legislation, [7 USC 1691 note](/us/usc/t7/s1691).signed by President Eisenhower, began the largest food assistance program ever undertaken by one country on behalf of needy people throughout the world, the Food for Peace program.
The productivity and abundance of U.S. agriculture have made this generosity possible. During the thirty years of this program, more than 300 million tons of agricultural commodities and products valued at approximately $34 billion have been distributed to over 150 countries. This food has helped reduce world hunger and improve nutritional standards. The Food for Peace program has served as an example for other countries which have joined the United States in the effort to provide food aid to needy people.
It has served as a model for others to follow and continues to meet changing needs and situations. The Food for Peace program has accomplished multiple objectives: to combat hunger and malnutrition abroad, to expand export markets for U.S. agriculture, to encourage economic advancement in developing countries, and to promote in other ways the foreign policy of the United States. In recognition of the accomplishments of this program, the Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 306, has designated July 10, 1984 as “Food for Peace *Ante*, p. 325.Day” and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of that day. 98 STAT. 3620 NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim July 10, 1984, as Food for Peace Day, and I call upon the people of the United States to commemorate this occasion with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of July, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and ninth. RONALD REAGAN **Editorial note**: For the President’s remarks of July 10, 1984, on signing Proclamation 5220, see the *Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents* (vol. 20, p. 1008). 5221 July 11, 1984 Year of the St. Lawrence Seaway and St. Lawrence Seaway Day, 1984 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 5221 of July 11, 1984 Year of the St.
Lawrence Seaway and St. Lawrence Seaway Day, 1984 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Since the French explorers of the Sixteenth Century, people have searched for a reliable way to sail into the heart of our continent. The opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959 made this dream a reality and opened North America’s agricultural and industrial heartland to deep draft ocean vessels. The Seaway forged the final link in a waterway extending over 2,000 miles from Duluth, Minnesota to the Atlantic Ocean.
The building and operation of the St. Lawrence Seaway, considered one of man’s most outstanding engineering feats, was a joint project of the United States and Canada and stands as a symbol of the valued and constructive cooperation which long has existed between the two countries. On the 25th Anniversary of the completion of the Seaway, it is appropriate that we recognize its role in promoting our economic prosperity. In the quarter century since Queen Elizabeth and President Eisenhower joined in its dedication, more than one billion metric tons of cargo, valued at more than $200 billion, have moved along this trade and transportation route.
As grain has moved from the farmlands of the United States and Canada to help feed the hungry around the world, Great Lakes cities have grown into international seaports. The second largest cargo shipped on the Seaway is iron ore, important to the industries of both countries. I urge all Americans to join with our good neighbors in Canada in observing this Anniversary. Let us celebrate together a quarter century of partnership in the spirit of friendship and cooperation that has long marked United States–Canadian relations, and pledge our continued support of the international Seaway which links our two countries.
In recognition of the valuable contributions of the St. Lawrence Seaway to *Ante*, p. 395.the Nation, the Congress, by House Joint Resolution 567, has designated 1984 as the “Year of the St. Lawrence Seaway” and June 27, 1984, as “St Lawrence Seaway Day,” and authorized and requested the President to issue an appropriate proclamation. NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim 1984 as the Year of the St. Lawrence Seaway and June 27, 1984, as St.
Lawrence Seaway Day, and I urge all Americans to join in appropriate observances. 98 STAT. 3621 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eleventh day of July, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and ninth. RONALD REAGAN 5222 July 13, 1984 Year of the Ocean Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 5222 of July 13, 1984 Year of the Ocean By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation The United States has long depended upon the ocean for food, transportation, national security, and recreation.
Today, the ocean has become even more important to the people of our Nation—as a source of petroleum and minerals and an avenue for foreign trade. In addition, the ocean is a constant source of employment for hundreds of thousands of Americans each year. This Nation is the steward of the resources of the ocean. Americans have long cherished the freedom of the coastal regions which border our shores. The ocean is the link between the many countries with which we have shared the discoveries of modem technology in the development of oceanography.
Our increased use of the ocean requires that we work to protect this resource effectively and efficiently. In order to do so, we must educate Americans concerning the role of the ocean in our lives and our responsibility to match increased uses of marine resources with vigilant efforts to preserve the ocean environment for the benefit of future generations. In recognition of the importance of expanding public awareness and knowledge of the importance of the ocean and its resources, the Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 257, has designated July 1, 1984, to July 1, 1985, as the “Year of the Ocean” and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this event NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the year July 1, 1984, to July 1, 1985, as the *Ante*, p. 282.Year of the Ocean.
I call upon the people of the United States to observe such celebration with appropriate activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and ninth. RONALD REAGAN 5223 July 16, 1984 Captive Nations Week, 1984 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Proclamation 5223 of July 16, 1984 Captive Nations Week, 1984 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Once each year, all Americans are asked to pause and to remember that their liberties and freedoms, often taken for granted, are forbidden to many nations around the world.
America continues to be dedicated to the propo-98 STAT. 3622sition that all men are created equal. If we are to sustain our commitment to this principle, we must recognize that the peoples of the Captive Nations are endowed by the Creator with the same rights to give their consent as to who shall govern them as those of us who are privileged to live in freedom. For those captive and oppressed peoples, the United States of America stands as a symbol of hope and inspiration. This leadership requires faithfulness towards our own democratic principles as well as a commitment to speak out in defense of mankind’s natural rights.
Though twenty-five years have passed since the original designation of Captive Nations Week, its significance has not diminished. Rather, it has undeniably increased—especially as other nations have fallen under Communist domination. During Captive Nations Week we must take time to remember both the countless victims and the lonely heroes; both the targets of carpet bombing in Afghanistan, and individuals such as imprisoned Ukrainian patriot Yuriy Shukhevych. We must draw strength from the actions of the millions of freedom fighters in Communist-occupied countries, such as the signers of petitions for religious rights in Lithuania, or the members of Solidarity, whose public protests require personal risk and sacrifice that is almost incomprehensible to the average citizen in the Free World.
It is in their struggle for freedom that we can find the true path to genuine and lasting peace. For those denied the benefits of liberty we shall continue to speak out for their freedom. On behalf of the unjustly persecuted and falsely imprisoned, we shall continue to call for their speedy release and offer our prayers during their suffering. On behalf of the brave men and women who suffer persecution because of national origin, religious beliefs, and their desire for liberty, it is the duty and the privilege of the United States of America to demand that the signatories of the United Nations Charter and the Helsinki Accords live up to their pledges and obligations and respect the principles and spirit of those international agreements and understandings.
During Captive Nations Week, we renew our efforts to encourage freedom, independence, and national self-determination for those countries struggling to free themselves from Communist ideology and totalitarian oppression, and to support those countries which today are standing face-to-face against Soviet expansionism. One cannot call for freedom and human rights for the people of Asia and Eastern Europe while ignoring the struggles of our own neighbors in this hemisphere. There is no difference between the weapons used to oppress the people of Laos and Czechoslovakia, and those sent to Nicaragua to terrorize its own people and threaten the peace and prosperity of its neighbors.
The Congress, by joint resolution approved July 17, 1959 (73 Stat. 212), has authorized and requested the President to designate the third week in July as “Captive Nations Week.” NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the week beginning July 15, 1984, as Captive Nations Week. I invite the people of the United States to observe this week with appropriate ceremonies and activities to reaffirm their dedication to the international principles of justice and freedom, which unite us and inspire others.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of July, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and ninth. RONALD REAGAN **Editorial note**: For the President’s remarks of July 16, 1984, on signing Proclamation 5223, see the *Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents* (vol. 20, p. 1031). 5224 July 20, 1984 Space Exploration Day, 1984 Digitization Vendor By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation
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