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1669990
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Bicentennial Year
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document
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1
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id
1669990
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
Bicentennial Year
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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1669990
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1975-12-31
month
12
year
1975
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1975-12-01
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12
year
1975
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nara-archive
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e334dd9dab91d01b
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The original documents are located in Box 34, folder "Bicentennial Year" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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 PRE THE OF
The Bicentennial Year
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
In the year 1776, the people of our land dedicated themselves in word and deed
to the principles of liberty, equality, individual dignity, and representative government.
It was a hectic but heroic beginning of a process which led to the creation of a great
Republic symbolizing then, as it does today, the hope of the future.
The year 1776 was a year of revolution, not merely in the rejection of colonial rule,
but in the thoughtful, eloquent, and enduring expression of a government to foster
and perpetuate the development of a free and independent people.
Now, two hundred years later, we have settled our continent and turned our
vision to the limits of the universe. We are the richest nation in the world-rich in our
resources, rich in our creativity, rich in our strength, and rich in our people-from our
Native Americans to those who have come from every country on earth to share in the
hope, the work, and the spirit of our Republic.
The challenges faced by our forebears were not only to their physical capabilities
but also to their faith in the future. Their response to these challenges affirmed their
deep belief that by their actions they could create a better world for themselves and
those that would follow. As we enter America's third century, let us emulate in word
and deed, their resolve and vision.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GERALD R. FORD, President of the United States
of America, do hereby proclaim the year of our Lord nineteen hundred seventy-six as
The Bicentennial Year. Let 1976 be a year of reflection, a year of sharing, and foremost,
a year of achievement.
I urge all Americans to reflect, from time to time during this Bicentennial Year,
on the historic events of our past, on the heroic deeds of those whose legacy we now
enjoy, and on the compelling visions of those who helped shape our constitutional
government.
I call upon educators, clergy and labor, business and community leaders, as well
as those in the communications media, to review our history and publicize the shaping
events, people, and ideas of our historic beginnings.
I call upon every man, woman, and child to celebrate the diversity of tradition,
culture and heritage that reflects our people and our patrimony. Let each of us resolve
to cherish and protect what we have achieved in the United States of America and to
build upon it in the years ahead, not by words alone, but by actions which bespeak a
continuing commitment to a heritage of individual initiative, creativity, and liberty.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of
December, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred seventy-five, and of the Inde-
pendence of the United States of America the two hundredth.
Gerall R. Ford