National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, 2009 — 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 Pearl Harbor in 2009

President Obama's proclamation remembered the people who died as a result of their service at Pearl Harbor and honored those who served during World War II. Its account emphasized the actions of service members during the attack: defending their positions, responding to the attackers, and caring for the wounded. Those acts of duty and care form the heart of the tribute.

The document also looked beyond the attack to the national response that followed. It described ordinary people finding extraordinary courage and Americans joining the Armed Forces. The historical narrative below is the President's published tribute, reproduced in full so readers can distinguish his words from this explanatory context.

The remembrance day and the flag request

The proclamation cited Congress's designation of December 7 as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day under Public Law 103–308, as amended. For the 2009 observance, it encouraged ceremonies and activities and urged Federal agencies, organizations, groups, and individuals to fly the United States flag at half-staff on December 7.

The formal proclamation date was December 4, 2009. The observance was December 7, and Federal Register publication followed on December 9. The flag request applied to the named day; the text did not give a numerical start or end time. This article records that particular historical proclamation rather than announcing a current order.

Full official proclamation text

Proclamation 8463 of December 4, 2009 — National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, 2009
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation

President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared December 7, 1941, a ‘‘date which will live in infamy.’’ With over 3,500 Americans killed or wounded, the surprise attack by the Imperial Japanese on Pearl Harbor was an attempt to break the American will and destroy our Pacific Fleet. They succeeded in doing neither. On National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, we pay tribute to the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, and we honor all those who selflessly served our Nation at home and abroad during World War II.

On a tranquil Sunday morning, as war raged around the globe, the attack on Pearl Harbor effectively ended American isolation—thrusting our Nation into action. Japanese airplanes had launched an unprovoked assault on our military with immense firepower, and our service members valiantly answered the call. They defended their positions, fought back against the attackers, and cared for the wounded. In that darkest hour, men and women who had considered themselves ordinary found within themselves the ability to do something extraordinary. And in the months and years that followed, Americans all across the country would respond to Pearl Harbor with firm resolve, many joining our Armed Forces to defend our shores and our freedom.

This courage is not uncommon in the story of America—a story of heroes whose sacrifice and valor speak to their love of comrades and country; and whose goodness guides our quest for lasting peace. Today, and every day, we draw strength from the moment when the best among us defended an island and a Nation from the onslaught of tyranny, and forever altered the course of our history.

The Congress, by Public Law 103–308, as amended, has designated December 7 of each year as ‘‘National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.’’

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Monday, December 7, 2009, as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. I encourage all Americans to observe this solemn day of remembrance with appropriate ceremonies and activities. I urge all Federal agencies and interested organizations, groups, and individuals to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff this December 7 in honor of those American patriots who died as a result of their service at Pearl Harbor.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, 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 65381–65382. 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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