Presidential Proclamations on Parants' Day
Parents' Day, 2008
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
July 25, 2008
Parents teach their children timeless values to help them make the most
of life's opportunities and overcome its challenges. On Parents' Day, we
pay tribute to the parents who provide their children with guidance,
support, and unconditional love and who help make our country a better
place.
Mothers and fathers are a source of stability and great comfort in
society, and they have a vital obligation to love and care for their
children. Through patient instruction and a loving example, they instill
in children the principles that make our Nation strong and ensure that
children have the skills to lead lives of character and integrity. As a
child's primary teachers, parents are responsible for their child's
education, and their efforts will contribute to a more hopeful future
for our country. Parents can help shape our Nation by encouraging young
people to make the right choices, become responsible citizens, and
achieve their dreams.
My Administration remains dedicated to promoting Federal, State, and
faith-based and community programs to assist American families and
support healthy marriages and responsible parenting. We are committed to
helping parents and schools enable the next generation of Americans to
realize their full potential.
On Parents' Day, we honor mothers and fathers and thank them for their
many years of patience and selflessness. We take this opportunity also
to recognize parents of adopted children and foster parents, who
generously provide children with a loving family to call their own. We
also recognize the parents who serve in our Armed Forces and the parents
of the brave men and women wearing our Nation's uniform. The members of
our Armed Forces are defending our freedom with dignity and honor, and
America is grateful for the sacrifices that they and their families make
in the name of duty.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
laws of the United States and consistent with Public Law 103-362, as
amended, do hereby proclaim Sunday, July 27, 2008, as Parents' Day. I
call upon citizens, private organizations, and governmental bodies at
all levels to engage in activities and educational efforts that
recognize, support, and honor parents, and I encourage American sons and
daughters to convey their love, respect, and appreciation to their
parents.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fourth day
of July, 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
Parents' Day, 2007
A Proclamation by the President of the United States
July 12, 2007
On Parents' Day, America honors our mothers and fathers for their
extraordinary devotion and for the great sacrifices they make to provide
a hopeful and promising future for their children.
The guidance and unconditional love of parents help create a nurturing
environment so children can grow and reach their full potential. Parents
work to impart to their children the strength and determination to
follow their dreams and the courage to do what is right. They shape the
character of their children by sharing their wisdom and setting a
positive example. As role models, parents also instill the values and
principles that help prepare children to be responsible adults and good
citizens.
My Administration is committed to strengthening American families by
supporting Federal, State, and faith-based and community programs that
promote healthy marriages and responsible parenting. Parents are a
child's first teachers, and we recognize their critical role in helping
children do well in school. My Administration is committed to helping
parents and schools ensure that every child has the best opportunity to
learn and succeed.
On Parents' Day, we pay tribute to mothers and fathers and celebrate the
special bonds of love between parents and their children. We also
express our deep gratitude to parents who serve in the Armed Forces and
those whose sons and daughters have answered the call to defend our
country. Our Nation is grateful for their honorable service and for the
sacrifices family members make as their loved ones work to advance the
cause of freedom.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
laws of the United States and consistent with Public Law 103-362, as
amended, do hereby proclaim Sunday, July 22, 2007, as Parents' Day. I
call upon citizens, private organizations, and governmental bodies at
all levels to engage in activities and educational efforts that
recognize, support, and honor parents, and I encourage American sons and
daughters to convey their love, respect, and appreciation to their
parents.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of
July, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
thirty-second.
GEORGE W. BUSH
Parents' Day, 2006
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
July 13, 2006
As a child's first teachers, mentors, and role models, parents shape the
character of those who will help to build the future of our Nation. On
Parents' Day, we pay tribute to the hard work and sacrifice of the
millions of devoted parents who provide guidance, support, and
unconditional love to their children.
Mothers and fathers help kindle imaginations, inspire a love of
learning, nurture the formation of young minds, and give children the
courage and the drive to realize their dreams. By instilling in children
the difference between right and wrong, parents guide their children
toward developing into successful adults and responsible citizens who
lead lives of purpose. In addition, the commitment of parents to the
welfare of young people strengthens families and communities throughout
our great country.
My Administration supports grants and programs to promote healthy
marriages and responsible fatherhood. The No Child Left Behind Act is
helping us ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn, and
recognizes that parental involvement is a vital part of the success of
schools across America. Federal, State, and local programs, and
faith-based and community groups provide additional resources to help
parents as they work to raise children of conviction and character.
On this special day, we express our deep gratitude to parents for their
dedication to a bright and hopeful future for their children. We also
pray for parents in the military who stand up for America, and we
resolve that their sacrifice will always be honored by a grateful
Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
laws of the United States and consistent with Public Law 103-362, as
amended, do hereby proclaim Sunday, July 23, 2006, as Parents' Day. I
call upon citizens, private organizations, and governmental bodies at
all levels to engage in activities and educational efforts that
recognize, support, and honor parents, and I encourage American sons and
daughters to convey their love, respect, and appreciation to their
parents.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of
July, in the year of our Lord two thousand six, and of the Independence
of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-first.
GEORGE W. BUSH
Parents' Day, 2005
A Proclamation by the President of the United States
July 21, 2005
Parents are role models for their children. With patience, sacrifice,
and love, they teach their children life lessons and prepare them for
the future. On Parents' Day, we express our gratitude for the hard work
of parents throughout America and reaffirm our commitment to promoting a
culture of responsible parenthood.
Mothers and fathers love their children unconditionally and make daily
sacrifices to provide for them. Parents create a safe, nurturing
environment in which their children can grow and learn. By instructing
their children to make right choices, parents instill lifelong values
and prepare their children for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Parents experience the great joy of watching their sons and daughters
mature into responsible adults and good citizens.
On Parents' Day, we recognize the boundless love and generosity of all
parents, including the foster and adoptive parents who demonstrate the
compassionate spirit of America. We honor parents for their dedication
to providing our Nation's children with the love and support they need.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
laws of the United States and consistent with Public Law 103 362, as
amended, do hereby proclaim Sunday, July 24, 2005, as Parents' Day. I
encourage all Americans to express love, respect, and appreciation to
parents across our Nation. I also call upon citizens to observe this day
with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty first day of
July, in the year of our Lord two thousand five, and of the Independence
of the United States of America the two hundred and thirtieth.
GEORGE W. BUSH
Parents' Day, 2004
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
July 23, 2004
Parents are a source of hope, help, stability, and love for their
children. Parents also teach children important values like courage,
compassion, self-reliance, reverence, integrity, and respect for others.
As we celebrate Parents' Day, we recognize the important contributions
of America's parents and renew our commitment to standing with our
families to help them raise healthy, responsible children.
Parenthood is a privilege and a great joy that comes with great
responsibility. Mothers and fathers play the vital roles of provider,
nurturer, disciplinarian, counselor, advocate, educator, and motivator.
They offer unconditional love and help their children to realize their
dreams. As parents work to send the right messages to our young people,
they shape the character and future of our Nation.
To help strengthen American families and encourage parents' active
involvement in the lives of their children, my Administration is
committed to promoting healthy marriages and responsible fatherhood. We
are providing information to parents on early childhood education and
development and supporting community-based parenting education programs.
We are also providing parents with more options in educating their
children and more opportunities to adopt young boys and girls in need.
On Parents' Day, we honor America's mothers and fathers for their
guidance, support, and unconditional love for their children. The
tireless efforts of parents, stepparents, adoptive parents, and foster
parents make our Nation stronger and help build a better future for all
our citizens.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
laws of the United States and consistent with Public Law 103-362, as
amended, do hereby proclaim Sunday, July 25, 2004, as Parents' Day. I
encourage all Americans to express their love, respect, and appreciation
to parents across our Nation. I also call upon citizens to observe this
day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-third day of
July, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and of the Independence
of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-ninth.
GEORGE W. BUSH
Parents' Day, 2003
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
July 25, 2003
Children are a daily reminder of the blessings and responsibilities of
life and a source of joy, pride, and fulfillment. Parents, stepparents,
adoptive parents, and foster parents have the important responsibility
of providing for, protecting, nurturing, teaching, and loving their
children. On Parents' Day, we honor America's mothers and fathers and
celebrate the values that bind families from one generation to the next
and help define us as a Nation.
As a child's first teachers, parents are the most influential and
effective instructors in a child's life. Through their words, actions,
and sacrifices, parents are living examples for children. Young boys and
girls watch their parents closely and imitate their behavior. Parents
play a critical role in instilling responsibility, integrity, and other
life lessons that shape the lives of America's future leaders.
My Administration is committed to supporting our Nation's families. We
are working with faith-based and community organizations to promote
healthy marriages, responsible parenting, and education. And we are
committed to fully funding and supporting the Promoting Safe and Stable
Families Program, which helps strengthen family bonds, promote adoption,
and provide help for vulnerable children across our country.
Volunteer service is one way parents can spend time with their children
while encouraging them to learn the value of helping others. The USA
Freedom Corps' "How I Spent My Summer" initiative includes volunteer
opportunities where parents and children can work together to meet the
needs of their communities. This initiative offers ideas such as
collecting food for local food banks or school supplies for children in
need. In addition, families can volunteer at one of our Nation's parks
or recreation areas creating trails, assisting with archeological digs,
or building and restoring houses. Teaching by example, parents can help
their children become responsible citizens.
Parenting is one of the most rewarding and challenging endeavors in
life. On this special day, we recognize the hard work and compassion of
America's parents and celebrate the mothers and fathers who are positive
role models for their children. I encourage parents to spend more time
reading, talking, and volunteering with their children. I also urge
parents to share the joys and wisdom of parenthood with new families in
their communities and those planning families for the future.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
laws of the United States and consistent with Public Law 103-362, as
amended, do hereby proclaim Sunday, July 27, 2003, as Parents' Day. I
encourage all Americans to express their respect and appreciation to
parents everywhere for their contributions to their children, families,
communities, and our Nation. I also call upon citizens to observe this
day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth day of
July, in the year of our Lord two thousand three, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
twenty-eighth.
GEORGE W. BUSH
Parents' Day, 2002
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
July 26, 2002
Parenthood is a profound blessing, bringing with it responsibilities
that are both challenging and rewarding. The care, dedication, and
attention of parents are critical to their children's success. As they
teach, guide, and nurture, parents help their children to realize their
potential and achieve their dreams. Parents also play a critical role in
shaping their children's character by sharing important life-lessons and
values and showing them how to love and care for others.
As we face the challenges of a new era, families remain the foundation
of our civil society; and parents are the cornerstone of strong
families. This important responsibility often presents difficult
problems and trying circumstances as parents balance competing demands
such as making a living, raising their children, and participating in
their communities.
Our Nation has made great progress in recognizing the importance of
effective parenting, but there is still much to do. My Administration is
committed to promoting a healthier society by helping parents build
stronger families. Many studies have shown that children do better in
two-parent households where the parents are married; and as part of our
plan to promote the well-being of children, I have committed significant
resources to programs that encourage healthy and stable marriages. While
no law can ensure that people love one another, we can support
initiatives that help couples learn how to build successful marriages
and be good parents.
My Administration supports community-based efforts that help delinquent
fathers improve their lives so they can become effective parents. With
job training, employment, counseling, and career advancement education,
we hope to make it easier for more fathers to have positive
relationships with their sons and daughters. We have also taken
important steps to empower and inform parents through the No Child Left
Behind Act, ensuring that they will be vital partners in their
children's education. Further, every child in America deserves to live
in a safe, stable, and loving family; my Administration is committed to
increasing public awareness about the importance of adoption and to
encouraging Americans to consider adopting children. By pursuing these
significant measures, we increase compassion in our society, and we make
America a better place for all.
The nurturing and development of children require widespread investment,
focus, and commitment. While Government plays an important role in this
process, citizens, schools, and civic institutions must also assist
parents by reaching out to help meet the needs of young people in their
communities. By working together to provide for our children, we will
show them the way to a brighter future.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
laws of the United States and consistent with Public Law 103-362, as
amended, do hereby proclaim Sunday, July 28, 2002, as Parents' Day. I
encourage all Americans to join me in honoring the millions of mothers
and fathers, biological and adoptive, foster parents, and stepparents,
whose selfless love and determined efforts influence lives for the good
of their children and our Nation. I also urge all Americans to express
their love, respect, and appreciation to our parents, and I call upon
all citizens to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies,
and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-sixth day of
July, in the year of our Lord two thousand two, and of the Independence
of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-seventh.
GEORGE W. BUSH
Parents' Day, 2001
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
July 21, 2001
Being a parent is the most important job in the world. As we hold a
newborn in our arms or embrace an older adopted child, the promise we
make in our hearts to love, protect, and nurture our children stays with
us and with them forever. We are eternally linked to the children whom
we are blessed to parent and to the generations before us who helped
shape our lives.
Both mothers and fathers play a vital role in giving children the best
possible start in life. As parents, we provide our children with the
love and support they need to grow up to be caring individuals and
responsible citizens. The care we express and the values we instill help
our children achieve their greatest potential and ultimately will
determine the future of our Nation.
Unfortunately, children who lack a strong parental presence in their
lives can suffer over both the short and the long term. Study after
study has demonstrated that children who grow up without both parents in
their home are more likely to end up in poverty, drop out of school,
become addicted to drugs, have a child out of wedlock, or go to prison.
Single-parented children who avoid these unfortunate outcomes will
nevertheless miss out on the balance, unity, and stability that a
two-parent family can bring.
Recognizing that strong families make a strong America, I have committed
my Administration to help parents do better by encouraging the formation
and maintenance of loving families. We have proposed several major
initiatives designed to promote responsible fatherhood, strengthen
families, and make adoption easier and more afford-able, so that every
child has a better chance of living in a stable and loving home. We also
have achieved widespread support for the historic reform of our public
education system that will significantly improve our schools. This
improvement is founded on the core principles of my education reform
agenda, which include: accountability; flexibility; local control; and
more choices for parents.
Government bears an important responsibility to provide excellent
schools and educational programs that leave no child behind; but
Government cannot replace the love and nurturing of committed parents
that are essential for a child's well--being. Many community
organizations, centers of faith, and schools offer services and programs
to help parents improve their child-rearing skills. As we observe
Parents' Day, I encourage all Americans to join me in honoring the
millions of mothers and fathers, biological and adoptive, foster
parents, and stepparents, whose selfless love and hard-working efforts
are building better lives for their children and our Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
laws of the United States and consistent with Public Law 103-362, do
hereby proclaim Sunday, July 22, 2001, as Parents' Day. I urge all
Americans to express their love, respect, support, and appreciation to
their parents, and I call upon citizens to observe this day with
appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first day of
July, in the year of our Lord two thousand one, and of the Independence
of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-sixth.
GEORGE W. BUSH
Parents' Day, 2000
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
July 22, 2000
Parents play a crucial role in shaping our lives and the life of our
Nation. They nurture us as infants when we are unable to help ourselves,
protect us as toddlers when we wander into trouble, encourage us as
adolescents when we dream about the future, and guide us as adults as we
face the challenges and opportunities of our own families and careers.
It is through their care that we learn the invaluable lessons of love,
family, and community; and it is through their selflessness that we come
to understand the joy of making a difference in the life of another.
Throughout our Administration, Vice President Gore and I have strived to
provide parents with the tools they need to meet their responsibilities.
The Family and Medical Leave Act, which I signed in 1993, has allowed
more than 20 million Americans to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to
care for a newborn or an ailing relative without fear of losing their
jobs. We have also worked to make child care safer, better, and more
affordable for millions of families, and we have expanded preschool and
after-school programs to give parents more flexibility in balancing the
demands of job and family. And we have worked hard for parents to make
the dream of a college education for their sons and daughters a reality
-- with new HOPE scholarships, more work-study opportunities, higher
Pell grants, and more affordable student loans.
Parenting is a lifetime commitment and a lifetime challenge -- it
involves balancing the demands of family, friends, career, and
community. Yet parenting is also one of life's greatest gifts. To hold
one's sleeping baby, watch one's children take their first tottering
steps and hear them say their first words, boast with pride about their
first home run or first music recital, and witness firsthand their
journey into adulthood -- these are some of the most precious rewards of
parenthood.
Only when we pass from childhood to adulthood can we appreciate the
value of our parents and the extent of their sacrifices. For these, we
owe our parents -- whether biological or adoptive, stepparents or foster
parents -- a profound debt of gratitude. On Parents Day and throughout
the year, let us pay tribute to America's parents, whose unconditional
love and constant devotion have helped create a bright future for the
next generation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
laws of the United States and consistent with Public Law 103-362, do
hereby proclaim Sunday, July 23, 2000, as Parents' Day. I call upon all
Americans to join together in observing this day with appropriate
ceremonies and activities to honor our Nation's parents.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first day of
July, in the year of our Lord two thousand, and of the Independence of
the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-fifth.
WILLIAM J. CLINTON