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Proclamation 2795
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
Whereas the joint resolution of Congress of June 22, 1942, Entitled "Joint
Resolution to Codify and Emphasize Existing Rules and Customs Pertaining
to the Display and Use of the Flag of the United States of America,"
as amended by the joint resolution of December 22, 1942, 56 Stat. 1074,
contains the following provisions:
Sec. 2. (a) It is the universal custom to display the flag only from
sunrise to sunset on buildings and on flagstaffs in the open. However, the
flag may be displayed at night upon special occasions when it is desired
to produce a special effect.
Sec. 8. Any rule or custom pertaining to the display of the flag of the
United States of America, set forth herein, may be altered, modified, or
repealed, or additional rules with respect thereto may be prescribed, by
the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, whenever
he deems it to be appropriate or desirable; and any such alteration or
additional rule shall be set forth in a proclamation,
and
WHEREAS Francis Scott Key, after having anxiously watched from afar the
bombardment of Fort McHenry throughout the night of September 13th, 1814,
saw his country's flag still flying in the early morning of the following
day; and
WHEREAS this stirring evidence of the failure of the prolonged attack
inspired him to write "The Star-Spangled Banner," our national
anthem:
NOW THEREFORE, I, Harry S. Truman, President of the United States of
America and Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, do hereby proclaim
that, as a perpetual symbol of our patriotism, the flag of the United
States shall hereby be displayed at Fort McHenry National Monument and
Historic Shrine at all times of the day and night, except when the weather
is inclement.
The rules and customs pertaining to the flag as set forth in the joint
resolution are modified accordingly.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of
the United States of America to be affixed.
DONE at the city of Washington this 2nd day of July in the year of our
Lord nineteen hundred and forty-eight, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the one hundred and seventy-second.
HARRY S. TRUMAN
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
"Preserving
The Legacy"
