12 2 STA T .53 5 0PROCL A M AT I O N8 2 9 0 — S E PT. 1 7, 2008 theInd e p enden c e of the 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 n8290 o fSep tem b er 17, 2008 Nation a lPOW/MIARec o g nition D a 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 On N ationa lP OW /M IA Reco g nition D ay , we honor the b ra v e and patri- otic Americans who were held as prisoners of war, and we remember those who are still missing in action. F or their valor and selfless devo- tion to protect the country they love, our Nation owes them a debt we can never fully repay. On this day we underscore our commitment and pledge to those who are still missing in action and to their families that we will not rest until we have achieved the fullest possible ac- counting for every member of our Armed Forces missing in the line of duty. T o observe this important day, the National L eague of Families POW/ MIA flag is flown over the C apitol, the White House, the World War II Memorial, the K orean War V eterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and other locations across our country. The flag is a solemn reminder of our Nation ’ s enduring obligation and promise to our coura- geous service members who remain missing and a tribute to those who have been imprisoned while serving their country in conflicts around the world. 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 Friday, September 19 , 20 0 8 , as National POW/MIA Recognition Day. I call upon the people of the United States to j oin me in honoring and re- membering all former American prisoners of war and those missing in action for their valiant service to our Nation. I also call upon Federal, State, and local government officials and private organi z ations to ob- serve this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third. GEORGE W. BUSH
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