Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day 2010 — Historical Half-Staff Archive

Historical notice: this observance has ended. This independent FORTISVEX resource preserves a past presidential directive; it is not a government notice.

Remembering those who gave their lives

President Obama's 2010 Memorial Day proclamation connected the sacrifices of earlier generations with the losses experienced by service members and families in his own time. Its opening traced military service across places from Concord and Gettysburg to Baghdad and Kandahar. The tribute honored Americans who died in service and called on the living to preserve their legacy while working for peace.

The document also addressed the families and friends left behind. It recognized their grief alongside the country's gratitude, and asked Americans to renew their support for troops, military families, and veterans. Memorial Day's central remembrance here was for those who had given their lives; the broader expressions of support did not replace that purpose.

Three separate times on May 31

The proclamation requested half-staff display until noon on Memorial Day, May 31, 2010. Governors and appropriate government officials were asked to direct that observance on buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States and areas under its jurisdiction and control. Americans were also asked to display flags at half-staff at home during the customary forenoon period.

The prayer hour and the National Moment of Remembrance were separate parts of the day: the prayer hour began at 11 a.m. in each locality, while the moment of remembrance began at 3 p.m. local time. Neither time extended the half-staff request beyond noon.

The proclamation cited Congress's request for an annual Memorial Day prayer-for-peace proclamation under 36 U.S.C. 116 and the National Moment of Remembrance established by Public Law 106–579. Its formal date was May 28; the Federal Register published it June 7, after that year's observance. These are historical instructions for 2010, not a current flag notice.

Full official proclamation text

Proclamation 8532 of May 28, 2010 — Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day, 2010
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation

Since our Nation’s founding, America’s sons and daughters have given their lives in service to our country. From Concord and Gettysburg to Marne and Normandy, from Inchon and Khe Sanh to Baghdad and Kandahar, they departed our world as heroes and gave their lives for a cause greater than themselves.

On Memorial Day, we pay tribute to those who have paid the ultimate price to defend the United States and the principles upon which America was founded. In honor of our country’s fallen, I encourage all Americans to unite at 3:00 p.m. local time to observe a National Moment of Remembrance.

Today, Americans from all backgrounds and corners of our country serve with valor, courage, and distinction in the United States Armed Forces. They stand shoulder to shoulder with the giants of our Nation’s history, writing their own chapter in the American story. Many of today’s warriors know what it means to lose a friend too soon, and all our service members and their families understand the true meaning of sacrifice.

This Memorial Day, we express our deepest appreciation to the men and women in uniform who gave their last full measure of devotion so we might live in freedom. We cherish their memory and pray for the peace for which they laid down their lives. We mourn with the families and friends of those we have lost, and hope they find comfort in knowing their loved ones died with honor. We ask for God’s grace to protect those fighting in distant lands, and we renew our promise to support our troops, their families, and our veterans. Their unwavering devotion inspires us all—they are the best of America.

It is our sacred duty to preserve the legacy of these brave Americans, and it remains our charge to work for peace, freedom, and security. Let us always strive to uphold the founding principles they died defending; let their legacy continue to inspire our Nation; and let this solemn lesson of service and sacrifice be taught to future generations of Americans.

In honor of their dedication and service to America, the Congress, by a Joint Resolution, approved May 11, 1950, as amended (36 U.S.C. 116), has requested the President to issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people of the United States might unite in prayer. The Congress, by Public Law 106–579, has also designated 3:00 p.m. local time on that day as a time for all Americans to observe, in their own way, the National Moment of Remembrance.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Memorial Day, May 31, 2010, as a day of prayer for permanent peace, and I designate the hour beginning in each locality at 11:00 a.m. of that day as a time to unite in prayer. I also ask all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day.

I request the Governors of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff until noon on this Memorial Day on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States and in all areas under its jurisdiction and control. I also request the people of the United States to display the flag at half-staff from their homes for the customary forenoon period.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

BARACK OBAMA

Official federal proclamation text from Federal Register pages 32085–32086. Page headings and line wrapping are omitted for readability; the signature is represented by the name above.

Verify the official document

Read or download the official proclamation PDF from GovInfo · Read the Federal Register record

Find related historical directives in the Presidential Half-Staff Archive.

Signature page from the official published proclamation

Select the published page to open the official PDF.

Preparing a remembrance display

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