98-45 C
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Commemorative Observances 1997 and 1998:
A Chronological List
March 16, 1998
Glenda Richardson
Information Research Specialist
Congressional Reference Division
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress
Abstract
It has become standard practice for commemorative observances to be
designated by a proclamation issued by the President. This report, which will be
updated periodically through the year, is a chronological list of these proclamations
for 1997, and 1998.
Commemorative Observances 1997 and 1998:
A Chronological List
Summary
Historically, national commemorative observances were recommended by
Congress through the legislative process. This practice was discontinued by the
House of Representatives in January 1995, although the Senate continues to issue
sense of the Senate resolutions recommending the establishment of commemoratives.
It has now become standard practice for special observances to be designated by a
proclamation issued by the President. This report is a chronological list of these
proclamations for 1997 and 1998, indicating the proclamation number and its
Federal Register citation.
Contents
1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
January . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
February . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
March . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
April . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
June . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
July . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
August . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
September . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
October . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
November . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
December . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
January . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
February . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
March . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
April . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
June . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
July . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
August . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
September . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
October . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
November . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
December . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Commemorative Observances 1997 and 1998:
A Chronological List
Historically, national commemorative observances were recommended by
Congress through the legislative process. This practice was discontinued by the
House of Representatives in January 1995, although the Senate continues to issue
sense of the Senate resolutions recommending the establishment of commemoratives.
The President has always had the authority to declare by proclamation any
commemorative event or national observance. It has now become standard practice
for special observances to be designated by a proclamation issued by the President.
Generally these observances are limited to a one-time celebration only, on a
particular day, week, or month of a particular year. The following is a chronological
list of these proclamations for 1997 and 1998, indicating the proclamation number
and its Federal Register (FR) citation.
Except for the perpetual commemoratives indicated in italics below, with their
citations to the U.S. Code (USC), these proclamations (Proc.) must be reissued each
year. Most are issued shortly before the observance of the event. For this reason we
are unable to provide a complete advance calendar indicating these days. We are
providing the 1997 list as an indication of those observances that might be designated
in 1998.
1997
January
16—Religious Freedom Day (Proc. 6966, 62 FR 3191)
20—National Day of Hope and Renewal (Proc. 6968, 62 FR 3443)
February
African American History Month (Proc. 6970, 62 FR 5287)
American Heart Month—February each year (36 USC 169b; Proc. 6971, 62 FR
5291).
9-15—National Child Passenger Safety Week (Proc. 6972, 62 FR 6443)
March
American Red Cross Month (Proc. 6973, 62 FR 9065)
Irish-American Heritage Month (Proc. 6974, 62 FR 9677)
Women’s History Month (Proc. 6975, 62 FR 9905)
2-8—Save Your Vision Week—First week of March each year (36 USC 169a; Proc.
6976, 62 FR 9907).
7—National Older Workers Employment Week (Proc. 6978, 62 FR 11069)
CRS-2
16-22—National Poison Prevention Week—Third week of March each year (36
USC 165; Proc. 6977, 62 FR 11067).
25—Greek Independence Day (Proc. 6979, FR 14771)
April
Cancer Control Month—April each year (36 USC 150; Proc. 6980, 62 FR 16033).
National Child Abuse Prevention Month (Proc. 6981, 62 FR 16035)
9—National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day (Proc. 6983, 62 FR 17861)
10—National D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Day (Proc. 6984, 62
FR 18015)
11—National Pay Inequity Awareness Day (Proc. 6985, 62 FR 18497)
13-19—National Crime Victims Week (Proc. 6989, 62 FR 19021)
13-19—National Service and Volunteer Week (Proc. 6986, 62 FR 18501)
13-19—Pan American Week (Proc. 6987, 62 FR 18503)
14—Pan-American Day (Proc. 6987, 62 FR 18503)
18—Education and Sharing Day (Proc. 6990, 62 FR 19471)
20-26—National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week (Proc. 6992, 62 FR
19891)
20-26—National Wildlife Week (Proc. 6993, 62 FR 19893)
21-27—National Park Week (Proc. 6994, 62 FR 19895)
May
Asian/Pacific-American Heritage Month—May each year (36 USC 169k; Proc.
6998, 62 FR 25105).
Older Americans Month (Proc. 6996, 62 FR 24555)
1—Law Day—May 1 each year (36 USC 164; Proc. 6995, 62 FR 19897).
1—Loyalty Day—May 1 each year (36 USC 152; Proc. 6997, 62 FR 24557).
1—National Day of Prayer—First Thursday of May each year (36 USC 169h; Proc.
6991, 62 FR 19663).
11—Mother’s Day—Second Sunday in May each year (36 USC 142; Proc. 6999, 62
FR 25421).
11-18—Jewish Heritage Week (Proc. 7001, 62 FR 26203)
11-17—National Transportation Week—Week in which National Defense
Transportation Day falls each year (36 USC 166; Proc. 7002, 62 FR 26379).
11-17—Police Week—Week in which Peace Officer Memorial Day falls each year
(36 USC 167; Proc. 7000, 62 FR 26201).
15—Peace Officer Memorial Day—May 15 each year (36 USC 167; Proc. 7000,
62 FR 26201).
16—National Defense Transportation Day—Third Friday in May each year (36
USC 160 ; Proc. 7002, 62 FR 26379).
17-23—National Safe Boating Week—Seven-day period prior to the Memorial Day
weekend each year (36 USC 161; Proc. 7003, 62 FR 27167).
18-24—World Trade Week (Proc. 7004, 62 FR 27927)
22—National Maritime Day—May 22 each year (36 USC 145; Proc. 7005, 62 FR
28605).
26—Prayer for Peace Memorial Day (Proc. 7006, 62 FR 28793)
June
1-7—Small Business Week (Proc. 7008, 62 FR 30427)
CRS-3
15—Father’s Day—Second Sunday in June each year (36 USC 142a)
8-15—National Flag Week—Week in which June 14 occurs each year (36 USC
157a; Proc. 7009, 62 FR 31699).
14—Flag Day—June 14 each year (36 USC 157; Proc. 7009, 62 FR 31699).
July
20-26—Captive Nations Week—Third week in July each year (Proc. 7012).
27—National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day—July 27 each year until the
year 2003 (36 USC 169m; Proc. 7014, 62 FR 40723).
27—Parents’ Day—Fourth Sunday of July each year (36 USC 142c; Proc. 7015, 62
FR 40725).
August
26—Women’s Equality Day—(Proc. 7017, 62 FR 44529)
September
National Hispanic Heritage Month—September 15 through October 15 each year
(36 USC 159f; Proc. 7020, 62 FR 48931).
14-20—50th Anniversary of the National Security Act of 1957 (Proc. 7021, 62 FR
48933)
14-20—National Week of Food Recovery (Proc. 7019, 62 FR 48929)
17—Citizenship Day—September 17 each year (36 USC 153; Proc. 7022, 62 FR
49121).
17-23—Constitution Week—Week beginning September 17 and ending September
23 each year (36 USC 159; Proc. 7022, 62 FR 69121).
19—National POW/MIA Recognition Day (Proc. 7023, 62 FR 49123)
21-27—Minority Enterprise Development Week (Proc 7024, 62 FR 50469)
21-27—National Farm Safety Week and Health Week (Proc. 7026, 62 FR 50473)
21-27—National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week (Proc. 7025,
62 FR 50471)
26—Austrian American Day (Proc. 7027, 62 FR 51363)
28—Gold Star Mother’s Day—Last Sunday in September each year (36 USC 148;
Proc. 7028, 62 FR 51365).
October
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (Proc. 7029, 62 FR 52005)
National Disability Employment Awareness Month—October each year (36 USC
155; Proc. 7031, 62 FR 52223).
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (Proc. 7030, 62 FR 52007)
5-11—Fire Prevention Week (Proc. 7032, 62 FR 52471)
6—Child Health Day—First Monday in October each year (36 USC 143; Proc.
7033, 62 FR 52473).
6—German-American Day (Proc. 7034, 62 FR 52645)
9—Leif Erikson Day—October 9 each year (36 USC 169c; Proc. 7035, 62 FR
53525).
11—General Pulaski Memorial Day (Proc. 7036, 62 FR 53257)
12—National Children’s Day (Proc. 7040, 62 FR 53701)
12-18—National School Lunch Week—Week beginning on the second Sunday in
October each year (36 USC 168; Proc. 7038, 62 FR 53695).
CRS-4
15—International Rural Women’s Day (Proc. 7041, 62 FR 54355)
15—White Cane Safety Day—October 15 each year (36 USC 155; Proc. 7037, 62
FR 53259).
19-25—National Character Counts Week (Proc. 7043, 62 FR 54755)
19-25—National Forest Products Week—Week beginning on the third Sunday of
October each year (36 USC 163; Proc. 7042, 62 FR 54751).
24—United Nations Day (Proc. 7044, 62 FR 55723)
25-31—National Consumers Week (Proc. 7045, 62 FR 56047)
November
National Adoption Month (Proc. 7048, 62 FR 60153)
National American Indian Heritage Month (Proc. 7047, 62 FR 59773)
2-8—National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week (Proc. 7046,
62 FR 59559)
6—National Day of Concern About Young People and Gun Violence (Proc.
7049, 62 FR 60637)
20—National Great American Smokeout Day (Proc. 7051, 62 FR 62679)
21-27— National Farm-City Week (Proc. 7053, 62 FR 62939)
23-29—National Family Caregivers Week (Proc. 7055, 62 FR 62943)
23-29—National Family Week (Proc. 7054, 62 FR 62941)
December
National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month (Proc. 7057, 62 FR
64131)
1—World AIDS Day (Proc. 7056, 62 FR 64127)
7—National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day— December 7 each year (36 USC
169l; Proc. 7058, 62 FR 65003).
10—Human Rights Day (Proc. 7059, 62 FR 65309)
10-17—Human Rights Week (Proc. 7059, 62 FR 63509)
15—Bill of Rights Day (Proc. 7059, 62 FR 53509)
17—Wright Brothers Day—December 17 each year (36 USC 169; Proc. 7061, 62
FR 66251).
1998
January
Year of the Ocean (Proc. 7065, 63 FR 4553)
16—Religious Freedom Day (Proc. 7063, 63 FR 3243)
February
African-American History Month (Proc. 7067, 63 FR 5719)
American Heart Month—February each year (36 USC 169b; Proc. 7066, 63 FR
5717).
March
American Red Cross Month (Proc. 7069, 63 FR 10487)
Irish-American Heritage Month (Proc. 7070, 63 FR 10489)
CRS-5
Women’s History Month (Proc. 7071, 63 FR 10741)
1-7—Save Your Vision Week—First week of March each year (36 USC 169a: Proc.
7068, 63 FR 10289).
8-14—National Older Workers Employment Week (Proc. 7072, 63 FR 11983)
15-21—National Poison Prevention Week—Third week of March each year (36
USC 165)
April
Cancer Control Month—April each year (36 USC 150).
May
Asian/Pacific-American Heritage Month—May each year (36 USC 169k).
1—Law Day—May 1 each year (36 USC 164).
1—Loyalty Day—May 1 each year (36 USC 152).
7—National Day of Prayer—First Thursday of May each year (36 USC 169h).
10—Mother’s Day—Second Sunday in May each year (36 USC 142).
10-16—National Transportation Week—Week in which National Defense
Transportation Day falls each year (36 USC 166).
10-16—Police Week—Week in which Peace Officer Memorial Day falls each year
(36 USC 167).
15—Peace Officer Memorial Day—May 15 each year (36 USC 167).
15—National Defense Transportation Day—Third Friday in May each year (36
USC 160).
17-23—National Safe Boating Week—Seven-day period prior to the Memorial Day
weekend each year (36 USC 161).
22—National Maritime Day—May 22 each year (36 USC 145).
June
21—Father’s Day—Third Sunday in June each year (36 USC 142a).
14-20—National Flag Week—Week in which June 14 occurs each year (36 USC
157a)..
14—Flag Day—June 14 each year (36 USC 157).
July
12-18—Captive Nations Week—Third Week in July each year.
27—National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day—July 27 each year until the
year 2003 (36 USC 169m).
26—Parents’ Day—Fourth Sunday of July each year (36 USC 142c).
August
September
National Hispanic Heritage Month—September 15 through October 15 each year
(36 USC 159f).
17—Citizenship Day—September 17 each year (36 USC 153).
17-23—Constitution Week—Week beginning September 17 and ending September
23 each year (36 USC 159).
27—Gold Star Mother’s Day—Last Sunday in September each year (36 USC 148).
CRS-6
October
National Disability Employment Awareness Month—October each month (36 USC
155).
5—Child Health Day—First Monday in October each year (36 USC 143).
9—Leif Erikson Day—October 9 each year (36 USC169c).
11-17—National School Lunch Week —Week beginning on the second Sunday in
October each year (36 USC 168).
15—White Cane Safety Day—October 15 each year (36 USC 155).
18-24—National Forest Products Week—Week beginning on the third Sunday in
October each year (36 USC 163).
November
December
7— National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day—December 7 each year (36 USC
169l)
17—Wright Brothers Day—December 17 each year (36 USC 169).