12 2 STA T .5349PROCL A M AT I O N8 289 — S E PT. 1 7, 2 0 08 Indep enden c e ofth e U n i ted S t a te s of Am e r ica the t w oh u ndred and thirt y- third .GEOR GE W . B US HProclam a ti o n82 8 9 o fSep tem b er 17, 2 0 08 Consti t u tion Day an d Citi ze ns h i p Day , Constitution W ee k , 20 0 8BythePr e sid e n t of the U nited S t a tes of Am eri c a A Proc l amation Americans are united b y the idea l sofe q ual j ustice , limited g o v ern- ment, and the rule of law. On C onstitution D ay and Citi z enship Day and during Constitution Wee k , we remember the vision and determina- tion of the F ramers to build a free society, and we celebrate the histor- ical document they created to achieve that goal. M ore than two centuries ago, our Founding Fathers gathered in P hila- delphia and produced a charter that would promote justice and pre- serve the liberty of all our citizens. T he Founders established three separate branches of Government with a system of checks and balances among them. Ours is the oldest written constitution in the world, and the American e x periment remains the world ’ s best hope for freedom. The Constitution forged the American creed of liberty and equality and has lifted the lives of countless individuals. Whether they are citizens by birth or by oath, Americans share a great tradition of enjoying lib- erty protected by a constitutional government of their choosing. On Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and during Constitution Week, Americans come together and recognize the blessings bestowed upon our great N ation. On this occasion we celebrate the courage of the Constitution’s drafters and recommit ourselves to making the United States a more perfect union. In recognition of the signing of the Constitution and of Americans who strive to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of citizenship, the Con- gress, by joint resolution of February 29 , 1 9 5 2 (36 U.S.C. 1 0 6, as amended ) , designated September 1 7 as ‘ ‘Constitution Day and Citizen- ship Day,’’ and by joint resolution of August 2, 1956 (36 U.S.C. 10 8 , as amended), requested that the President proclaim the week beginning September 17 and ending September 23 of each year as ‘‘Constitution Week.’’ NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim September 17, 2008, as Con- stitution Day and Citizenship Day, and September 17 through Sep- tember 23, 2008, as Constitution Week. I encourage Federal, State, and local officials, as well as leaders of civic, social, and educational orga- nizations, to conduct ceremonies and programs that celebrate our Con- stitution and reaffirm our rights and responsibilities as citizens of this great Nation. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of September, in the year of our L ord two thousand eight, and of
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