Loyalty Day, 2003
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation 

To be an American is not a matter of blood or birth. Our citizens are 
bound by ideals that represent the hope of all mankind: that all men are 
created equal, endowed with unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the 
pursuit of happiness. On Loyalty Day, we reaffirm our allegiance to our 
country and resolve to uphold the vision of our Forefathers.  

Our founding principles have endured, guiding our Nation toward 
progress and prosperity and allowing the United States to be a leader 
among nations of the world. Throughout our history, honorable men and 
women have demonstrated their loyalty to America by making 
remarkable sacrifices to preserve and protect these values.  

Today, America's men and women in uniform are protecting our Nation, 
defending the peace of the world, and advancing the cause of liberty. 
The world has seen again the fine character of our Nation through our 
military as they fought to protect the innocent and liberate the 
oppressed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. We are honored by the service of 
foreign nationals in our Armed Services whose willingness to risk their 
lives for a country they cannot yet call their own is proof of the loyalty 
this country inspires. Their service and sacrifice are a testament to 
their love for America, and our soldiers' honor on and off the battlefield 
reaffirms our Nation's most deeply held beliefs: that every life counts, 
and that all humans have an unalienable right to live as free people.  

These values must be imparted to each new generation. Our children 
need to know that our Nation is a force for good in the world, 
extending hope and freedom to others. By learning about America's 
history, achievements, ideas, and heroes, our young citizens will 
come to understand even more why freedom is worth protecting.  

Last September, I announced several initiatives that will help improve 
students' knowledge of American history, increase their civic 
involvement, and deepen their love for our great country. The We the 
People initiative will encourage the teaching of American history and 
civic education by providing grants for curriculum development and 
training seminars. The Our Documents initiative will use the Internet to 
bring infor-mation about and the text of 100 of America's most important 
documents from the National Archives to classrooms and com-munities 
across the country. These initiatives are important, for it is only when 
our children have an understanding of our past that they will be able to 
lead the future.  

This Loyalty Day, as we express allegiance to our Nation and its 
founding ideals, we resolve to ensure that the blessings of liberty 
endure and extend for generations to come.  

The Congress, by Public Law 85-529, as amended, has designated May 
1 of each year as "Loyalty Day," and I ask all Americans to join me in 
this day of celebration and in reaffirming our allegiance to our Nation.  

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United 
States of America, do hereby proclaim May 1, 2003, as Loyalty Day. I 
call upon all the people of the United States to join in support of this 
national observance. I also call upon government officials to display the 
flag of the United States on all government buildings on Loyalty Day.  

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day 
of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand three, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and 
twenty- seventh.  

GEORGE W. BUSH 

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Source: Whitehouse ...
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/04/20030430-26.html

Cheers, Steve..

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