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1669989
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Bicentennial Independence Day
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document
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1
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id
1669989
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
Bicentennial Independence Day
citationUrl
collections
William J. Baroody Files (Ford Administration)
William Baroody's Proclamations Files
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American Revolution Bicentennial, 1776-1976
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1669989
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1976-07-31
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7
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1976
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1976-07-01
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7
year
1976
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The original documents are located in Box 34, folder "Bicentennial Independence
Day" of the William J. Baroody Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 34 of the William J. Baroody Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
OF THE UNITED THE
OF
Bicentennial Independence Day
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
The Continental Congress by resolution adopted July 2, 1776, declared that
thirteen American colonies were free and independent states. Two days later, on the
fourth of July, the Congress adopted a Declaration of Independence which proclaimed
to the world the birth of the United States of America.
In the two centuries that have passed, we have matured as a nation and as a
people. We have gained the wisdom that age and experience bring, yet we have kept
the strength and idealism of youth.
In this year of our Nation's Bicentennial, we enter our third century with the
knowledge that we have achieved greatness as a nation and have contributed to the
good of mankind. We face the future with renewed dedication to the principles em-
bodied in our Declaration of Independence, and with renewed gratitude for those
who pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to preserve individual
liberty for us.
In recognition of the two hundredth anniversary of the great historic events of
1776, and in keeping with the wishes of the Congress, I ask that all Americans join
in an extended period of celebration, thanksgiving and prayer on the second, third,
fourth and fifth days of July of our Bicentennial year-so that people of all faiths, in
their own way, may give thanks for the protection of divine Providence through 200
years, and pray for the future safety and happiness of our Nation.
To commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, the Congress,
by concurrent resolution adopted June 26, 1963 (77 Stat. 944), declared that its an-
niversary be observed by the ringing of bells throughout the United States.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GERALD R. FORD, President of the United States
of America, do hereby proclaim that the two hundredth anniversary of the adoption
of the Declaration of Independence be observed by the simultaneous ringing of bells
throughout the United States at the hour of two o'clock, eastern daylight time, on
the afternoon of the Fourth of July, 1976, our Bicentennial Independence Day, for
a period of two minutes, signifying our two centuries of independence.
I call upon civic, religious, and other community leaders to encourage public
participation in this historic observance. I call upon all Americans, here and abroad,
including all United States flag ships at sea, to join in this salute.
As the bells ring in our third century, as millions of free men and women pray,
let every American resolve that this Nation, under God, will meet the future with the
same courage and dedication Americans showed the world two centuries ago. In per-
petuation of the joyous ringing of the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, let us again "Pro-
claim Liberty throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants thereof."
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth
day of June in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred seventy-six, and of the Independ-
ence of the United States of America the two hundredth.
Gerall R. Ford