[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 125, 112th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 8690 of June 17, 2011

Father's Day, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Parenthood is the ultimate gift and an incredible responsibility. Every
day, fathers across our country give everything they have to build a
better future for their family, asking nothing in return but their
children's love and success. On Father's Day, we honor the men in our
lives who have helped shape us for the good, and we recommit to
supporting fatherhood in our families, in our communities, and across
our Nation.
Fathers, along with our mothers, are our first teachers, coaches, and
advisors. They help us grow into adults, consoling us in times of need
and celebrating with us in times of triumph. Strong male role models
come in all forms, but they have one thing in common: they show up and
give it their best. A father figure may be a biological father, or he
may be a surrogate father who raises, mentors, or cares for another's
child. Every family is different, but what matters is the unconditional
support, guidance, and love fathers and mentors give us throughout life.
Today, too many children in our country grow up without such support and
guidance. A father's absence is felt by children, families, and
communities in countless ways, leaving a hole that can have lasting
effects. Their absence is also felt by mothers, who work overtime and
double shifts, put food on the table, and care for children alone while
trying to make ends meet. And it is felt in our communities, when boys
grow up without male leaders to inspire them.
My Administration has made supporting fathers and their communities a
priority. Last year on Father's Day, I announced the President's
Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative, a nationwide effort to support
organizations that foster responsible fatherhood and help re-engage
fathers in the lives of their children. We have bolstered community and
faith-based programs that provide valuable support networks for fathers.
We are also promoting work-life balances that benefit families, and
partnering with businesses across America to create opportunities for

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fathers and their children to spend time together. And military leaders
are joining in our efforts to help families keep in touch when a dad is
deployed overseas, so the fathers who serve to protect all our children
can stay connected to their own.
On Father's Day, we celebrate the men who make a difference in the life
of a child, and we pay tribute to all the fathers who have been our
guiding lights. In the days ahead, we recommit ourselves to making
fatherhood, and the support men need to be fathers, a priority in our
Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, in accordance with a joint resolution of the Congress approved
April 24, 1972, as amended (36 U.S.C. 109), do hereby proclaim June 19,
2011, as Father's Day. I direct the appropriate officials of the
Government to display the flag of the United States on all Government
buildings on this day, and I call upon all citizens to observe this day
with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of
June, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
fifth.
BARACK OBAMA