President Bush proclaimed
December 7 as “National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day”
to commemorate Japan’s 1941 surprise attack on U.S.
naval forces, and said the United States continues to seek
a more peaceful world.
In a November 28 statement, Bush said the
1941 attack, which killed 2,400 Americans, occurred at a
time when the United States was emerging from economic depression
and fascism was being spread throughout Europe and Asia.
American and Allied soldiers “fought
and won a world war against two of the most ruthless regimes
the world has ever known,” Bush said.
“In the years since those victories,
the power of freedom and democracy has transformed America's
enemies in World War II into close friends.”
Additional
information and related resources on the Pearl Harbor
attack available on the Naval Historical Center website.
Following is the text of President Bush’s
proclamation:
(begin text)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Crawford, Texas)
November 28, 2005
NATIONAL PEARL HARBOR REMEMBRANCE DAY, 2005
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
On National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day,
we pray for those lost on December 7, 1941, and we honor
the courage of a generation of Americans who devoted themselves
to one of the great missions in our country's history. After
the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor took more than 2,400
American lives, millions of our citizens answered the call
to defend our liberty, and the world witnessed the power
of freedom to overcome tyranny.
Liberty's ultimate triumph was far from
clear in the early days of World War II. When our country
was attacked at Pearl Harbor, America was emerging from
the Great Depression, and several nations had larger armies
than the United States. In Asia and Europe, country after
country had fallen before the armies of militaristic tyrants.
However, the brave and determined men and women of our Nation
maintained their faith in the power of freedom and democracy.
They fought and won a world war against two of the most
ruthless regimes the world has ever known. In the years
since those victories, the power of freedom and democracy
has transformed America's enemies in World War II into close
friends.
Today, our goal is to continue to spread
freedom and democracy and to secure a more peaceful world
for our children and grandchildren. We are grateful to the
men and women who are defending our flag and our freedom
in the first war of the 21st century. These patriots are
protecting our country and our way of life by upholding
the tradition of honor, bravery, and integrity demonstrated
by those who fought for our Nation in World War II. The
service and sacrifice of our World War II veterans continue
to inspire people across our country, and we remain deeply
grateful for all that these heroes have done for the cause
of freedom.
The Congress, by Public Law 103-308, as
amended, has designated December 7 of each year as "National
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day."
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President
of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim December
7, 2005, as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. I encourage
all Americans to observe this solemn occasion with appropriate
ceremonies and activities. I urge all Federal agencies,
interested organizations, groups, and individuals to fly
the flag of the United States at half-staff this December
7 in honor of those who died as a result of their service
at Pearl Harbor.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set
my hand this twenty-eighth day of November, in the year
of our Lord two thousand five, and of the Independence of
the United States of America the two hundred and thirtieth.
GEORGE W. BUSH
(end text)
###
