Order Code 98-45 C
Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Commemorative Observances:
A Chronological List
Updated February 12, 2003
Glenda Richardson
Information Research Specialist
Information Research Division

Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

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Commemorative Observances:
A Chronological List
Summary
Historically, national commemorative observances were often recommended by
Congress through the legislative process. This practice was for the most part
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. A recent noteworthy
departure from current congressional policy is P.L. 107-89, which designates
September 11 as Patriot Day and calls upon the President to issue an annual
proclamation calling on the American people to commemorate Patriot Day. This
report is a chronological list of these proclamations for 2002 and 2003, indicating the
proclamation number and its Federal Register citation. This report will be updated
periodically during the year.

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Contents
2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Decade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
January . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
February . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
March . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
April . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
June . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
July . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
August . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
September . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
October . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
November . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
December . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
January . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
February . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
March . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
April . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
June . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
July . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
August . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
September . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
October . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
November . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
December . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

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Commemorative Observances:
A Chronological List
Historically, national commemorative observances were often recommended by
Congress through the legislative process. This practice was for the most part
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
A recent noteworthy departure from current congressional policy is P.L. 107-89,
which designates September 11 as Patriot Day and calls upon the President to issue
an annual proclamation calling upon the American people to commemorate Patriot
Day. 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 2002 and 2003,
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 2002 list as an indication of the observances that might well be
designated again in 2003.
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

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CRS-2
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
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

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CRS-3
22-28
National Park Week
Proc. 7546, 67 FR 20605
28-5/4
National Charter Schools Week
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
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
Proc. 7559, 67 FR 34587
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
Proc. 7559, 67 FR 34587
18
Armed Forces Day
Proc. 7562, 67 FR 35707
Third Saturday in May each year
18-24
National Safe Boating Week
36 USC 161
Seven-day period prior to the Memorial Day
Proc. 7563, 67 FR 35891
weekend each year
19-25
National Hurricane Awareness Week
Proc. 7560, 67 FR 34815
19-25
World Trade Week
Proc. 7564, 67 FR 35893
22
National Maritime Day
36 USC 145
May 22 each year
Proc. 7565, 67 FR 36495
25
National Missing Children’s Day
Proc. 7566, 67 FR 36497

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CRS-4
27
Prayer for Peace Memorial Day
36 USC 169g
Memorial Day each year
Proc. 7567, 67 FR 36499
June
Black Music Month
Proc. 7568, 67 FR 38583
National Homeownership Month
Proc. 7570, 67 FR 39241
2-8
National Fishing and Boating Week
67 FR 38585
9
National Child’s Day
Proc. 7571, 67 FR 39595
9-15
Great Outdoors Week
Proc. 7572, 67 FR 40137
14
Flag Day
36 USC 157
June 14 each year
Proc. 7573, 67 FR 40139
9-15
National Flag Week
36 USC 157a
Week in which June 14 occurs each year
Proc. 7573, 67 FR 40139
16
Father’s Day
36 USC 142a
Third Sunday in June each year
Proc. 7574, 67 FR 42177
July
14-20
Captive Nations Week
P.L. 86-90
Third Week in July each year
Proc. 7577, 67 FR 47677
26
Anniversary of the Americans with
Proc. 7579, 67 FR 49555
Disabilities Act
27
National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day
36 USC 169m
July 27 each year until 2003
Proc. 7578, 67 FR 49551
28
Parents’ Day
36 USC 169m
Fourth Sunday of July each year
Proc. 7580, 67 FR 49577
August
16
National Airborne Day
Proc. 7582, 67 FR 53723
18-24
National Health Center Week
Proc. 7583, 67 FR 53873
26
Women’s Equality Day
Proc. 7584, 67 FR 55317
September
National Alcohol and Drug Addiction
Proc. 7589, 67 FR 57123
Recovery Month

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CRS-5
National Hispanic Heritage Month
36 USC 159f
September 15 through October 15 each year
Proc. 7591, 67 FR 58955
National Ovarian Cancer Month
Proc. 7587, 67 FR 56745
6-8
National Days of Prayer and Remembrance
Proc. 7588, 67 FR 56893
11
Patriot Day
36 USC 144Proc. 7590, 67
September 11 each year
FR 57125
15-21
National Farm Safety and Health Week
Proc. 7592, 67 FR 58957
15-21
National Historically Black Colleges and
Proc. 7593, 67 FR 58959
Universities Week
17
Citizenship Day
36 USC 153
September 17 each year
17-23
Constitution Week
36 USC 159
Week of September 17-23 each year
20
National POW/MIA Recognition Day
Proc. 7595, 67 FR 60099
29
Gold Star Mother’s Day
36 USC 148
Last Sunday in September each year
Proc. 7598, 67 FR 62159
October
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Proc. 7599, 67 FR 62165
National Disability Employment Awareness
36 USC 155
Month October each year
Proc. 7600, 67 FR 62167
National Domestic Violence Awareness
Proc. 7601, 67 FR 62169
Month
6
German-American Day
Proc. 7604, 67 FR 62867
6-12
Fire Prevention Week
Proc. 7602, 67 FR 63863
7
Child Health Day
36 USC 143
First Monday in October each year
67 FR 62865
9
Leif Erikson Day
36 USC 169c
October 9 each year
Proc. 7605, 67 FR 63527
11
General Pulaski Memorial Day
Proc. 7607, 67 FR 64025
13-19
National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Week
Proc. 7608, 67 FR 64027
13-19
National School Lunch Week
36 USC 168
Week beginning on the second Sunday in
Proc. 7609, 67 FR 64029
October
15
White Cane Safety Day
36 USC 155
October 15 each year
Proc. 7610, 67 FR 64031

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CRS-6
18
Year of Clean Water
Proc. 7611, 67 FR 64787
Year beginning October 18, 2002, in
commemoration of the anniversary of the
Clean Water Act
20-26
National Character Counts Week
Proc. 7612, 67 FR 65281
20-26
National Forest Products Week
36 USC 163
Week beginning on the third Sunday in
Proc. 7613, 67 FR 65283
October each year
24
United Nations Day
Proc. 7614, 67 FR 65869
November
National Adoption Month
Proc. 7629, 67 FR 67771
National American Indian Heritage Month
Proc. 7620, 67 FR 67773
National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness
Proc. 7617, 67 FR 67293
Month
National Diabetes Month
Proc. 7618, 67 FR67295
National Family Caregivers Month
Proc. 7615, 67 FR 67087
National Hospice Month
Proc. 7621, 67 FR 67775
1
World AIDS Day
Proc. 7631, 67 FR 72089
6
West Wing Centennial Day
Proc. 7622, 67 FR 69017
9
World Freedom Day
Proc. 7625, 67 FR 69117
10-16
National Employer Support of the Guard and
Proc. 7624, 67 FR 68921
Reserve Week
15
America Recycles Day
Proc. 7627, 67 FR 69657
22-28
National Farm-City Week
Proc. 7629, 67 FR 70833
24-30
National Family Week
Proc. 7360, 67 FR 71067
December
National Drunk and Drugged Driving
Proc. 7632, 67 FR 72551
Prevention Month
1
World AIDS Day
Proc. 7361, 67 FR 72089
7
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
36 USC 169
December 7 each year
Proc. 7633, 67 FR 76103
10
Human Rights Day
Proc. 7634, 67 FR 76669
10-16
Human Rights Week
Proc. 7634, 67 FR 76669

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CRS-7
15
Bill of Rights Day
Proc. 7634, 67 FR 76669
17
Wright Brothers Day
36 USC 169
December 17 each year
Proc. 7635, 67 FR 77905
2003
January
National Mentoring Month
Proc. 7636, 68 FR 995
13
Centennial of Korean Immigration to the
Proc. 7368, 68 FR 2173
United States
16
National Religious Freedom Day
Proc. 7640, 68 FR 2869
19
National Sanctity o f Human Life Day
Proc. 7639, 68 FR 2409
February
American Heart Month
36 USC 169b
February each year
Proc. 7644, 68 FR 6055
National African American History Month
Proc. 7645, 68 FR 6057
2-8
National Consumer Protection Week
Proc. 7643, 68 FR 4887
March
2-8
Save Your Vision Week
36 USC 169a
First week of March each year
16-22
National Poison Prevention Week
36 USC 165
Third week of March each year
April
Cancer Control Month
36 USC 150
April each year
May
Asian/Pacific-American Heritage Month
36 USC 169k
May each year
1
Law Day
36 USC 164
May 1 each year

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CRS-8
1
Loyalty Day
36 USC 152
May 1 each year
1
National Day of Prayer
36 USC 169h
First Thursday of May each year
11
Mother’s Day
36 USC 142
Second Sunday in May each year
11-17
Police Week
36 USC 167
Week in which Peace Officer Memorial Day
falls each year
11-17
National Transportation Week
36 USC 166
Week in which National Defense
Transportation Day falls each year
15
Peace Officer Memorial Day
36 USC 167
May 15 each year
17
Armed Forces Day
Third Saturday in May each Year
16
National Defense Transportation Day
36 USC 160
Third Friday in May each year
17-23
National Safe Boating Week
36 USC 161
Seven-day period prior to the Memorial Day
weekend each year
22
National Maritime Day
36 USC 145
May 22 each year
26
Prayer for Peace Memorial Day
36 USC 169g
Memorial Day each year
June
6-14
National Flag Week
36 USC 157a
Week in which June 14 occurs each year
14
Flag Day
36 USC 157
June 14 each year
15
Father’s Day
36 USC 142a
Third Sunday in June each year
July
13-19
Captive Nations Week
P.L. 86-90
Third week in July each year
27
National Korean War Veterans Armistice
36 USC 169m
Day
July 27 each year until 2003

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CRS-9
27
Parents’ Day
36 USC 142c
Fourth Sunday of July each year
August
September
National Hispanic Heritage Month
36 USC 159f
September 15 through October 15 each year
11
Patriot Day
36 USC 144
September 11 each year
17
Citizenship Day
36 USC 153
September 17 each year
17-23
Constitution Week
36 USC 159
Week beginning September 17 and ending
September 23 each year
28
Gold Star Mother’s Day
36 USC 148
Last Sunday in September each year
October
National Disability Employment Awareness
36 USC 155
Month
October each year
6
Child Health Day
36 USC 143
First Monday in October each year
9
Leif Erikson Day
36 USC 169c
October 9 each year
12-18
National School Lunch Week
36 USC 168
Week beginning on the second Sunday in
October each year
15
White Cane Safety Day
36 USC 155
October 15 each year
19-25
National Forest Products Week
36 USC 163
Week beginning on the third Sunday of
October each year
November

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CRS-10
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

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