Order Code 98-45 C
Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Commemorative Observances:
A Chronological List
Updated May 21, 2002
Glenda Richardson
Information Research Specialist
Information Research Division

Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

---

Commemorative Observances:
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 2001 and 2002, indicating the proclamation number and its
Federal Register citation. This report will be updated periodically during the year.

---

Contents
2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
January . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
February . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
March . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
April . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
June . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
July . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
August . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
September . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
October . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
November . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
December . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Decade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
January . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
February . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
March . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
April . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
June . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
July . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
August . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
September . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
October . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
November . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
December . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

---

Commemorative Observances:
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 2001 and 2002,
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 only 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 2001 list as an indication of the observances that might well be
designated again in 2002.

---

CRS-2
2001
January
16
Religious Freedom Day
Proc. 7391, 66 FR 7205
21
National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving
Proc. 7403, 66 FR 7861
February
American Heart Month
36 USC 169b
February each year
Proc. 7406, 66 FR 9759
National African American History Month
Proc. 7404, 66 FR 9025
4-10
National Burn Awareness Week
Proc. 7407, 66 FR 9761
5-10
National Consumer Protection Week
Proc. 7405, 66 FR 9639
March
National Colorectal Cancer Awareness
Proc. 7415, 66 FR 14477
Month
Women’s History Month
Proc. 7411, 66 FR 13641
1
Fortieth Anniversary of the Peace Corps
Proc. 7410, 66 FR 13639
4-10
Save Your Vision Week
36 USC 169a
First week of March each year
Proc. 7413, 66 FR 14067
11-17
National Girl Scout Week
Proc. 7416, 66 FR 15783
25
Greek Independence Day
Proc. 7414, 66 FR 14069
18-24
National Poison Prevention Week
36 USC 165
Third week of March each year
Proc.7412, 66 FR 13643
April
Cancer Control Month
36 USC 150
April each year
Proc. 7418, 66 FR 17317
National Child Abuse Prevention Month
Proc. 7419, 66 FR 17319
4
Education and Sharing Day
Proc. 7417, 66 FR 16591
9
National Former Prisoner of War
Proc. 7421, 66 FR 18182
Recognition Day
8-14
Pan American Week
Proc. 7420, 66 FR 18035

---

CRS-3
12
National D.A.R.E. Day
Proc. 7425, 66 FR 19079
(Drug Abuse Resistance Education)
13
Thomas Jefferson Day
Proc. 7426, 66 FR 19845
14
Pan American Day
Proc. 7420, 66 FR 18035
15-21
National Organ and Tissue Donor
Proc. 7422, 66 FR 18395
Awareness Week
22-28
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week
Proc. 7424, 66 FR 19077
22-28
National Volunteer Week
Proc. 7427, 66 FR 20081
22-29
Jewish Heritage Week
Proc. 7423, 66 FR 18867
23-29
National Park Week
Proc. 7428, 66 FR 20183
May
Asian/Pacific-American Heritage Month
36 USC 169k
May each year
Proc. 7434, 66 FR 23831
Older Americans Month
Proc. 7432, 66 FR 23533
1
Law Day
36 USC 164
May 1 each year
Proc. 7431, 66 FR 22423
1
Loyalty Day
36 USC 152
May 1 each year
Proc. 7429, 66 FR 21629
3
National Day of Prayer
36 USC 169h
First Thursday of May each year
Proc. 7430, 66 FR 22103
6-12
Small Business Week
Proc. 7433, 66 FR 23535
13
Mother’s Day
36 USC 142
Second Sunday in May each year
Proc. 7437, 66 FR 24046
13-19
Police Week
36 USC 167
Week in which Peace Officer Memorial Day
Proc. 7435, 66 FR 24043
falls each year
13-19
National Biotechnology Week
Proc. 7438, 66 FR 28045
13-19
National Transportation Week
36 USC 166
Week in which National Defense
Proc. 7439, 66 FR 28047
Transportation Day falls each year
14-20
National Salvation Army Week
Proc. 7436, 66 FR 24045
15
Peace Officer Memorial Day
36 USC 167
May 15 each year
Proc. 7435, 66 FR 24043
18
National Defense Transportation Day
36 USC 160
Third Friday in May each year
Proc. 7439, 66 FR 28047

---

CRS-4
19-25
National Safe Boating Week
36 USC 161
Seven-day period prior to the Memorial Day
Proc. 7440, 66 FR 28049
weekend each year
20-26
National Hurricane Awareness Week
Proc. 7443; 66 FR 28825
20-26
World Trade Week
Proc. 7441, 66 FR 28353
22
National Maritime Day
36 USC 145
May 22 each year
Proc. 7442, 66 FR 28639
28
Prayer for Peace Memorial Day
36 USC 169g
Memorial Day each year
Proc. 7444, 66 FR 29445
June
Black Music Month
Proc. 7453, 66 FR 35361
3
National Child’s Day
Proc. 7446, 66 FR 30287
10-16
Great Outdoors Week
Proc. 7450, 66 FR 32205
10-16
National Flag Week
36 USC 157a
Week in which June 14 occurs each year
Proc. 7447, 66 FR 31367
14
Flag Day
36 USC 157
June 14 each year
Proc. 7447, 66 FR 31367
17
Father’s Day
36 USC 142a
Third Sunday in June each year
Proc. 7541, 66 FR 32891
July
15-21
Captive Nations Week
P.L. 86-90
Third week in July each year
Proc. 7455, 66 FR 37103
22
Parents’ Day
36 USC 142c
Fourth Sunday of July each year
Proc. 7456, 66 FR 38889
27
National Korean War Veterans Armistice
36 USC 169m
Day
Proc. 7457, 66 FR 39401
July 27 each year until 2003
August
26
Women’s Equality Day
Proc. 7458, 66 FR 45563

---

CRS-5
September
National Hispanic Heritage Month
36 USC 159f
September 15 through October 15 each year
Proc. 7471, 66 FR 50097
National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
Proc. 7459, 66 FR 46507
9-15
National Birmingham Pledge Week
Proc. 7460, 66 FR 47569
14
National Day of Prayer and Remembrance
for the Victims of the Terrorist Attacks of
Proc. 7462, 66 FR 47947
September 11, 2001
16-22
National Farm and Safety and Health Week
Proc. 7465, 66 FR 48317
17
Citizenship Day
36 USC 153
September 17 each year
Proc. 7466, 66 FR 48319
17-23
Constitution Week
36 USC 159
Week beginning September 17 and ending
Proc. 7466, 66 FR 48319
September 23 each year
21
National POW/MIA Recognition Day
Proc. 7469, 66 FR 48949
23-29
Minority Enterprise Development Week
Proc. 7467, 66 FR 48321
24
Family Day
Proc. 7470, 66 FR 49505
24-30
National Historically Black Colleges and
Proc. 7472, 66 FR 50099
Universities Week
29
National Public Lands Day
Proc. 7473, 66 FR 50287
30
Gold Star Mother’s Day
36 USC 148
Last Sunday in September each year
Proc. 7474, 66 FR 50289
October
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Proc. 7477, 66 FR 51295
National Disability Employment Awareness
36 USC 155
Month
Proc. 7478, 66 FR 51297
October each year
National Domestic Violence Awareness
Proc. 7475, 66 FR 50525
Month
1
Child Health Day
36 USC 143
First Monday in October each year
Proc. 7476, 66 FR 50527
6
German-American Day
Proc. 7481, 66 FR 51810
7-13
Fire Prevention Week
Proc. 7480, 66 FR 51808

---

CRS-6
9
Leif Erikson Day
36 USC 169c
October 9 each year
Proc. 7483, 66 FR 52015
11
General Pulaski Memorial Day
Proc. 7484, 66 FR 52303
14-20
National School Lunch Week
36 USC 168
Week beginning on the second Sunday in
Proc. 7485, 66 FR 52845
October each year
15
White Cane Safety Day
36 USC 155
October 15 each year
Proc. 7486, 66 FR 52847
21-27
National Forest Products Week
36 USC 163
Week beginning on the third Sunday of
Proc. 7487, 66 FR 53843
October each year

November
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Proc. 7495, 66 FR 57631
Month
National Adoption Month
Proc. 7493, 66 FR 56425
National Alcohol and Drug Addiction
Proc. 7496, 66 FR 57633
Prevention Month
National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness
Proc. 7497, 66 FR 57635
Month
National American Indian Heritage Month
Proc. 7500, 66 FR 57641
National Diabetes Month
Proc. 7507, 66 FR 62907
National Family Caregivers Month
Proc. 7498, 66 FR 57637
National Hospice Month
Proc. 7508, 66 FR 62909
9
World Freedom Day
Proc. 7499, 66 FR 57639
11
National Employer Support of the Guard and
Proc. 7494, 66 FR 57267
Reserve Week
National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Proc. 7492, 66 FR 56031
15
America Recycles Day
Proc. 7503, 66 FR 58049
18-24
National Family Week
Proc. 7506, 66 FR 59529
22
National Farm-City Week
Proc. 7501, 66 FR 57643

---

CRS-7
December
National Drunk and Drugged Driving
Proc. 7509, 66 FR 62911
Prevention Month
1
World Aids Day
Proc. 7510, 66 FR 63149
7
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
36 USC 169
December 7 each year
Proc. 7511, 66 FR 63899
9-15
Human Rights Week
Proc. 7513, 66 FR 64095
10
Human Rights Day
Proc. 7513, 66 FR 64095
15
Bill of Rights Day
Proc. 7513, 66 FR 64095
17
Wright Brothers Day
36 USC 169
December 17 each year
Proc. 7514, 66 FR 65089
2002
Decade
National Bone and Joint Decade, 2002-2011
Proc. 7533, 67 FR 13703
January
National Mentoring Month
Proc. 7519, 67 FR 3577
16
Religious Freedom Day
Proc. 7517, 67 FR 2787
20
National Sanctity of Human Life Day
Proc. 7520, 67 FR 3579
February
American Heart Month
36 USC 169b
February each year
Proc. 7521, 67 FR 5431
National African American History Month
Proc. 7522, 67 FR 5433
3-9
National Consumer Protection Week
Proc. 7523, 67 FR 5919
March
American Red Cross Month
Proc. 7525, 67 FR 10311
Irish-American Heritage Month
Proc. 7526, 67 FR 10313
Women’s History Month
Proc. 7530, 67 FR 10825

---

CRS-8
National Colorectal Cancer Awareness
Proc. 7527, 67 FR 10315
Month
3-9
Save Your Vision Week
36 USC 169a
Proc. 7528, 67 FR 10317
16
West Point Bicentennial Day
Proc. 7531, 67 FR 11381
17-23
National Poison Prevention Week
36 USC 165
Third week of March each year
Proc. 7532, 67 FR 12441
24
Education and Sharing Day
Proc. 7534, 67 FR 13703
25
Greek Independence Day
Proc. 7537, 67 FR 15093
April
Cancer Control Month
36 USC 150
April each year
Proc. 7536, 67 FR 17599
National Child Abuse Prevention Month
Proc. 7537, 67 FR 17601
9
National Former Prisoner of War
Proc. 7358, 67 FR 17905
11
National D.A.R.E. Day
Proc. 7539, 67 FR 18083
(Drug Abuse Resistance Education)
14
Pan American Day
Proc. 7540, 67 FR 19097
14-21
Jewish Heritage Week
Proc. 7541, 67 FR 19099
14-20
Pan-American Week
Proc. 7540, 67 FR 19097
21-27
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week
Proc. 7543, 67 FR 19635
21-27
National Organ and Tissue Donor
Proc. 7544, 67 FR 20005
Awareness Week
21-27
National Volunteer Week
Proc. 7545, 67 FR 20007
22-28
National Park Week
Proc. 7546, 67 FR 20605
28-
National Charter Schools Week
5/4
Proc. 7552, 67 FR 30533
May
Asian/Pacific-American Heritage Month
36 USC 169k
May each year
Proc. 7550, 67 FR 30311
Older Americans Month
Proc. 7551, 67 FR 30313
1
Law Day
36 USC 164
May 1 each year
Proc. 7548, 67 FR 30307

---

CRS-9
1
Loyalty Day
36 USC 152
May 1 each year
Proc. 7549, 67 FR 30309
2
National Day of Prayer
36 USC 169h
First Thursday of May each year
Proc. 7547, 67 FR 21559
5-12
National Tourism Week
Proc. 7556, 67 FR 31107
5-12
Small Business Week
Proc. 7555, 67 FR 31105
12
Mother’s Day
36 USC 142
Second Sunday in May each year
Proc. 7557, 67 FR 34583
12-18
National Transportation Week
36 USC 166
Week in which National Defense
Transportation Day falls each year
12-18
Police Week
36 USC 167
Week in which Peace Officer Memorial Day
Proc. 7558, 67 FR 34585
falls each year
15
Peace Officer Memorial Day
36 USC 167
May 15 each year
Proc. 7558, 67 FR 34585
17
National Defense Transportation Day
36 USC 160
Third Friday in May each year
18-24
National Safe Boating Week
36 USC 161
Seven-day period prior to the Memorial Day
weekend each year
19-25
National Hurricane Awareness Week
Proc. 7560, 67 FR 34815
22
National Maritime Day
36 USC 145
May 22 each year
29
Prayer for Peace Memorial Day
36 USC 169g
Memorial Day each year

June
14
Flag Day
36 USC 157
June 14 each year
9-15
National Flag Week
36 USC 157a
Week in which June 14 occurs each year
16
Father’s Day
36 USC 142a
Third Sunday in June each year

---

CRS-10
July
14-20
Captive Nations Week
P.L. 86-90
Third Week in July each year
28
Parents’ Day
36 USC 142
Fourth Sunday of July each year
27
National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day
36 USC 169m
July 27 each year until 2003
August
September
National Hispanic Heritage Month
36 USC 159f
September 15 through October 15 each year
17
Citizenship Day
36 USC 153
September 17 each year
17-23
Constitution Week
36 USC 159
Week of September 17-23 each year
29
Gold Star Mother’s Day
36 USC 148
Last Sunday in September each year

October
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
36 USC 155
October each year
7
Child Health Day
36 USC 143
First Monday in October each year
9
Leif Erikson Day
36 USC 169c
October 9 each year
13-19
National School Lunch Week
36 USC 168
Week beginning on the second Sunday in October
15
White Cane Safety Day
36 USC 155
October 15 each year
20-26
National Forest Products Week
36 USC 163
Week beginning on the third Sunday in October
each year

---

CRS-11
November
December
7
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
36 USC 169
December 7 each year
17
Wright Brothers Day
36 USC 169
December 17 each year

---