For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 17, 2003
Citizenship Day and Constitution Week, 2003
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
In the summer of 1787, representatives from the States met in
Philadelphia to establish a new Constitution that would unite America.
They intended the Constitution to achieve six purposes: "to form a
more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility,
provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure
the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity." Their work
was successful and enduring. For more than two centuries, the American
people have honored the foresight and wisdom of the Framers by
respecting and defending our Constitution.
Our Constitution and our country have grown stronger over the last
216 years -- through wars, searing internal conflicts, and great
social, economic, and technological change. In the last 2 years,
America has again been tested, this time by terrorist attacks designed
to strike at our people, our institutions, and our constitutional
government. In the wake of those attacks, we have renewed and
strengthened our commitment to a more perfect Union and common defense,
to justice and domestic tran-quility, to the general welfare and the
blessings of liberty.
On Citizenship Day and during Constitution Week, we remember those
who have fought and those who have died to preserve, protect, and
defend the Constitution. We recall and reiterate the vow of President
Abraham Lincoln that these "dead shall not have died in vain -- that
this Nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that
government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not
perish from the earth."
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 joint resolution of
February 29, 1952 (36 U.S.C. 106, as amended), designated September 17
as "Citizenship Day," and by joint resolution of August 2, 1956 (36
U.S.C. 108, 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, 2003, as Citizenship Day,
and September 17 through September 23, 2003, as Constitution Week. I
encourage Federal, State, and local officials, as well as leaders of
civic, social, and educational organizations, to conduct ceremonies and
programs to celebrate our Constitution and reaffirm our commitment as
citizens to this great Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
sixteenth day of September, 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
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