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

 
Proclamation 8689 of June 10, 2011

Flag Day and National Flag Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
On June 14, 1777, the Second Constitutional Congress adopted a flag with
thirteen stripes and thirteen stars to represent our Nation, one star
for each of our founding colonies. The stars were set upon a blue field,
in the words of the Congress's resolution, ``representing a new
constellation'' in the night sky. What was then a fledgling democracy
has flourished and expanded, as we constantly strive toward a more
perfect Union.
Through the successes and struggles we have faced, the American flag has
been ever present. It has flown on our ships and military bases around
the world as we continue to defend liberty and democracy abroad. It has
been raised in yards and on porches across America on days of
celebration, and as a sign of our shared heritage. And it is lowered on
days of remembrance to honor fallen service members and public servants;
or when tragedy strikes and we join together in mourning. Our flag is
the mark of one country, one people, uniting under one banner.
When the American flag soars, so too does our Nation and the ideals it
stands for. We remain committed to defending the liberties and freedoms
it represents, and we give special thanks to the members of the Armed
Forces who wear our flag proudly. On Flag Day, and during National Flag
Week, we celebrate the powerful beacon of hope that our flag has become
for us all, and for people around the world.
To commemorate the adoption of our flag, the Congress, by joint
resolution approved August 3, 1949, as amended (63 Stat. 492),
designated June 14 of each year as ``Flag Day'' and requested that the
President issue an annual proclamation calling for its observance and
for the display of the flag of the United States on all Federal
Government buildings. The Congress also requested, by joint resolution
approved June 9, 1966, as amended (80 Stat. 194), that the President
annually issue a proclamation designating the week in which June 14
occurs as ``National Flag Week'' and call upon citizens of the United
States to display the flag during that week.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim June 14, 2011, as Flag Day and the week
beginning June 12, 2011, as National Flag Week. I direct the appropriate
officials to display the flag on all Federal Government

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buildings during that week, and I urge all Americans to observe Flag Day
and National Flag Week by displaying the flag. I also call upon the
people of the United States to observe with pride and all due ceremony
those days from Flag Day through Independence Day, also set aside by the
Congress (89 Stat. 211), as a time to honor America, to celebrate our
heritage in public gatherings and activities, and to publicly recite the
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth 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