Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 123.djvu/3719

123STA T . 3 69 9 PROCL A M AT I O N84 18 — S E PT. 16 , 2 0 09 NOW,THER E F ORE, I , BA RA CK OBA M A, Presid e ntof t h e U nited S t a tesofA m eri c a, do here byp roc l aim September 15 thro ug h October 15, 20 0 9 , as National Hispanic Heritage Month . I call upon public offi - cials, educators, librarians, and all the people of the United States to obser v e this month w ith appropriate ceremonies, activities, and pro- grams. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of September, in the year of our L ord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth. BARACK OBAMA Proclam a ti o n841 8o fSep tem b er1 6,20 0 9Consti t u tion Day an d Citi ze ns h i p Day , Constitution W ee k , 20 0 9BythePr e sid e n t of the U nited S t a tes of Am eri c a A Proc l amation The United States Constitution has withstood the test of time for more than two centuries as our Nation ’ s charter of government and the guar- antor of our liberties. Signed in Philadelphia on September 1 7 ,17 8 7, this founding document reflects our core values and enshrines the truths set forth in the D eclaration of Independence, that we are each endowed with certain unalienable rights. As the beneficiaries of these rights, all Americans have a solemn obligation to participate in our de- mocracy so that it remains vibrant, strong, and responsive to the needs of our citi z ens. To succeed, the democracy established in our Constitution re q uires the active participation of its citizenry. Each of us has a responsibility to learn about our Constitution and teach younger generations about its contents and history. By fulfilling civic duties, engaging government at the local, State, and Federal level, and volunteering in our commu- nities, individual citizens can better our country and breathe life into the freedoms established in the Constitution. The right to participate in self-government, and the many other free- doms guaranteed by our Constitution, inspire the dreams and ambi- tions of many inside and outside our borders. These principles serve as a beacon of hope for Americans and those who see k new lives in the United States. Every day, we welcome new and diverse stories and heritages into the great patchwork of our Nation. United by our devo- tion to the Constitution and to the civic engagement it inspires, Ameri- cans remain committed to the fundamental principles established over two hundred years ago. In remembrance of the signing of the Constitution and in recognition of the Americans who strive to uphold the duties and responsibilities of citizenship, the Congress, by j oint resolution of February 29, 1952 (36 U.S.C. 106 ) , designated September 17 as ‘ ‘Constitution Day and Citizenship Day,’’ and by joint resolution of August 2, 1956 (36 U.S.C. 108), requested that the President proclaim the week beginning Sep-