12 2 STA T .5 2 9 1 PROCL A M AT I O N8 2 3 5 — APR. 9 , 2 0 08 eral,St ate, a nd l oc al g o v ern m ent o f f i cial s and p rivate organi z ations to o b serve t h is da yw ith appropriate ceremonies and activities .INW I T N E SSW H E R E OF , I have here u nto set my hand this eighth day of A pril, in the year of our L ord two thousand eight, and of the Inde - pendence of the U nited States of America the two hundred and thirty- second. G EORGE W. B USH Proclam a ti o n8235 o fAp ril 9, 2 0 08 Nation a lD.A . R . E .Da y,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 For 25 years, D rug Abuse Resistance Education ( D.A.R.E. ) has given school children across America an opportunity to gain the s k ills they need to avoid involvement in drugs, gangs, and violence. On National D.A.R.E. Day, we recognize those individuals who teach America ’ s children how to resist peer pressure and live productive, drug-free, and violence-free lives. M illions of our Nation’s young people have learned about the dan- gerous effects of drug abuse with the help of the D.A.R.E. program. P ar- ents, law enforcement officials, teachers, and counselors are on the front lines of this effort and are sending our kids a clear message that drug use is dangerous and unacceptable. In classrooms across the country, police officers are answering students’ tough q uestions about drugs and crime and encouraging an open line of communication be- tween students and law enforcement. My Administration is committed to reducing drug use among young people, and we are working to cut the supply of drugs coming into our country and fight demand here at home. Additionally, we are helping spread the message of drug prevention through the National Y outh Anti-Drug Media C ampaign and the Partnership for a Drug-Free Amer- ica. The Helping America’s Youth initiative, led by First Lady Laura Bush, is working with community leaders to address challenges facing young people on a daily basis. These and other efforts are helping to combat the destructive cycle of drug addiction. All Americans have a responsibility to encourage others to turn away from drug abuse and to make good choices in life. During National D.A.R.E. Day, we renew our commitment to providing our youth the knowledge and encouragement they need to resist the pressures that can lead them to e x periment with drugs and violent activities. By working together, we can help our children build lives of purpose and strengthen our communities, one heart and one soul at a time. NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Con- stitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 10 , 200 8 , as National D.A.R.E. Day. I urge all young people to make right choices and call upon all Americans to recognize our collective respon-
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