Proclamation 5225 -- Coast Guard Day, 1984

July 27, 1984

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

On August 4, 1790, the oldest continuous seagoing service of this Nation was formed. The United States Coast Guard was originally organized as "a fleet of cutters'' to stop illegal smuggling from the sea and collect revenue due on goods coming to the young Nation. Later called the Revenue Cutter Service, this small organization combined with the Life Saving Service in 1915 and assumed its now famous name -- the United States Coast Guard.

Today, Coast Guard contributions to our Nation in the areas of national defense, maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, aids to navigation, merchant marine safety, environmental protection, ports and waterway safety, and boating safety have become a benchmark by which professional maritime excellence is judged.

This Nation relies heavily on the readiness of the Coast Guard's active duty, reserve, and civilian employees and the voluntary contribution of the 40,000 members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary to rescue victims, protect our environment, and defend this Nation, as the Coast Guard has done in every major conflict in which the United States has been involved.

The Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 150, has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation designating August 4, 1984, as ``Coast Guard Day.''

Now, Therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim August 4, 1984, as Coast Guard Day in recognition of the profound importance of the missions and responsibilities entrusted to the Coast Guard. I invite all the Armed Forces -- the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard -- the Departments of Defense and Transportation, other Federal departments and agencies, the Governors of the States, the chief officials of local governments, and the people of the United States to observe this day in an appropriate manner.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and ninth.

Ronald Reagan

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 11:44 a.m., July 27, 1984]

Proclamation 5226 -- National Volunteer Firefighters Recognition Day, 1984

July 27, 1984

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Throughout our history, the American spirit has been distinguished by the ready willingness of neighbors to join together and help one another. The tradition of voluntary community service is as important today as it was in the founding years of our country.

Our Nation's volunteer firefighters carry on this truly American tradition of citizen response for the common good. Like the Minutemen of our early years, these volunteers are ready to respond on short notice to help fellow citizens in need. Volunteer firefighters protect our lives, our families, and the economic life of our communities from the threat of destructive fire, often at great personal sacrifice. But these volunteers are more than firefighters. In many communities, they respond to a wide range of natural and technological emergencies.

These trained and organized volunteers, our neighbors, are a valuable national resource. It is fitting and proper that a grateful Nation should recognize the vital contributions of the one million men and women who serve in our Nation's volunteer fire and rescue companies and departments.

The Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 136, has designated August 18, 1984, as ``National Volunteer Firefighters Recognition Day'' and has authorized and requested the President to issue an appropriate proclamation.

Now, Therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Saturday, August 18, 1984, as National Volunteer Firefighters Recognition Day, and I call upon all Americans to join in appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities to recognize the valuable contributions of these public-spirited volunteers.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and ninth.

Ronald Reagan

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 11:45 a.m., July 27, 1984]

 

Date
07/27/1984