Proclamation 5125 -- National Reye's Syndrome Week, 1983
November 4, 1983
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Reye's Syndrome is a serious illness that may attack the brain and liver of a child recovering from influenza, chicken pox, or some other viral infection. The cause of this disease -- which affects an estimated 600 to 1,200 children in the United States each year -- is unknown.
The first signs of Reye's Syndrome in a child are repeated vomiting, fatigue, and general irritation. The disease may progress to a life-threatening stage. If early symptoms are recognized and treated promptly, however, it is less likely that the disease will cause dangerous brain swelling, coma, or death.
New treatments are being developed to help victims of Reye's Syndrome recover. This improved outlook is a direct result of scientific research carried out by public and private investigators and physicians, many of whom are supported by the American Reye's Syndrome Associations, the National Reye's Syndrome Foundation (Ohio), the National Reye's Syndrome Foundation (Michigan), and the United States Public Health Service. Within the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health are carrying out research projects and constant surveillance of cases.
Much still remains to be learned about Reye's Syndrome. Coordinated research is needed to find better ways to treat this disorder and ultimately to prevent it. Public education is also essential, because parents and physicians can help to protect the Nation's children from its lethal effects if they learn to recognize this disease in its earliest stages.
To enhance the public's awareness of the gravity of Reye's Syndrome, the Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 34, has designated the week of November 7 through November 13, 1983, as ``National Reye's Syndrome Week'' and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of that week.
Now, Therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the week beginning November 7, 1983, as National Reye's Syndrome Week, and I call upon the people of the United States to observe that week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and eighth.
Ronald Reagan
[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 11:01 a.m., November 7, 1983]
Proclamation 5126 -- National Family Week, 1983
November 4, 1983
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
The family and family life are central to our American heritage. Family bonds give us an anchor in the past, as well as hope for the future. It is within the family that tradition is created, individuals grow, and faith is nurtured. Through family living, we discover who we are, how to interact with our fellowman, and the values that make a free society possible.
Families perform the daily tasks that sustain and renew us, including raising children and caring for the elderly. Families not only provide better health but also serve the special needs of the handicapped. In particular, those who have opened their homes through adoption and foster care deserve special thanks for offering the gift of family life to our Nation's less fortunate children.
Today, amid new pressures and needs, America is relearning the importance of its families. For instance, success in the national fight against drug and alcohol abuse must begin with a strong and united family. We are newly aware that the family cannot be taken for granted, and that the support of a family can never truly be replicated.
In recognition of the importance of the family as an essential unit of our free and orderly society, the Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 45, has authorized and requested the President to designate the week beginning on November 20, 1983, as ``National Family Week.''
Now, Therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the week of November 20 through November 26, 1983, as National Family Week. I applaud the men and women who uphold our families in many ways, as parents, grandparents, as the daughters and sons of older Americans.
I invite the Governors of the several States, the chief officials of local governments and all our citizens to observe this week with appropriate ceremonies and activities. During a week in which we will also observe Thanksgiving Day, I especially invite all Americans to give thanks for the family relationships with which we have been blessed.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and eighth.
Ronald Reagan
[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 11:30 a.m., November 7, 1983]