Proclamation 5816 --
National Maritime Day, 1988
By
the President of the
A
Proclamation
National
Maritime Day reminds us that the American merchant marine has always been
essential to our national security and economic growth -- and reminds us as
well that the men and women of the merchant marine deserve our gratitude every
day. The importance of the merchant marine to our national defense was never more clear than in World War II, when, at a cost of more
than 6,000 lives and with the loss of 733 ships, the American merchant marine
never faltered in delivering cargo for our Armed Forces throughout the world.
Earlier this year, these merchant seafarers received veteran status for their
valiant service.
Today,
the merchant marine continues its roles in trade and defense -- and the sailors
of our commercial fleets continue to exhibit the patriotism and the many skills
that have ever characterized them and their predecessors. It is truly fitting
that we pause to salute these seafarers and all other Americans who support
them and guard the lifelines of the sea that sustain us all.
In
recognition of the importance of the merchant marine, the Congress, by joint
resolution approved May 20, 1933, has designated May 22 of each year as
``National Maritime Day'' and authorized and requested the President to issue
annually a proclamation calling for its appropriate observance. This date was
chosen to commemorate the day in 1819 when SS SAVANNAH left
Now,
Therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the
In
Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of May, in the year
of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-eight, and of the
Ronald
Reagan
[Filed with the Office
of the Federal Register,