Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day, 2025
President Donald J. Trump's Memorial Day 2025 proclamation designates May 26th as a day of prayer for permanent peace.
It calls upon all Americans to observe a National Moment of Remembrance at 3:00 p.m. local time and requests the lowering of flags to half-staff until noon.
The proclamation is rooted in a 1950 Congressional resolution requesting Presidential action for a day of prayer for peace.
Arguments For
Honoring Fallen Heroes: The proclamation underscores the importance of remembering and honoring the sacrifices of American service members who died in defense of the nation.
National Unity: Designating a time for national prayer promotes unity and reflection on the meaning of Memorial Day.
Promoting Peace: The proclamation's focus on prayer for permanent peace reflects a desire for global harmony and an end to conflict.
Legal Precedent: The proclamation cites a joint resolution of Congress (36 U.S.C. 116) as the basis for the Presidential action, providing legal grounding for the request.
Tradition and Observance: The act of lowering flags and designating a moment of remembrance upholds established Memorial Day traditions and demonstrates respectful commemoration.
Arguments Against
Limited Practical Impact: A proclamation for prayer, while symbolic, may not significantly contribute to achieving real-world peace or reducing global conflict.
Potential for Divisive Interpretation: The religious nature of the proclamation might be seen as excluding or marginalizing individuals of other faiths or no faith.
Alternative Approaches (focus on action): Resources and efforts directed towards promoting peace could be better utilized through diplomatic initiatives, conflict resolution efforts, or investments in social programs that address root causes of conflict.
Symbolism vs. Substance: The symbolic gestures might be considered by some as insufficient to adequately address the complexities of national security and peacebuilding efforts.
Inconsistency with Past Actions: Critics may point to potential inconsistencies between stated goals of peace and other government policies or actions in past administrations.
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
This section's formal heading indicates the official nature and authority of the following document—a Presidential Proclamation.
Memorial Day is a sacred day of remembrance, reverence, and gratitude for the brave patriots who have laid down their lives in service to our great Nation. Throughout our history, brave men and women have been called to defend the cause of liberty on foreign shores in defense of our homeland. Their noble sacrifices are marked by flag-draped coffins and the silent sorrows of those left behind. We must never forget those who have given everything for our country.
This paragraph establishes the solemn significance of Memorial Day as a day to honor those who died serving the nation.
It highlights the sacrifices made by military personnel throughout US history and emphasizes the importance of remembering their contributions.
America’s Gold Star Families — whose sons, daughters, wives, and husbands are among the honored — endure unfathomable heartache. Their loved ones selflessly gave everything to protect our sovereignty. They have our unwavering support, deepest gratitude, and highest respect. The lives lost in war serve as a solemn reminder of why we must pursue peace through strength.
This paragraph specifically acknowledges the immense grief experienced by Gold Star Families—those who have lost loved ones in military service. It expresses the nation's gratitude and support for these families and reiterates the importance of pursuing peace.
We are eternally indebted to our Nation’s fallen heroes. On this solemn day, as we honor their sacrifice, the First Lady and I ask all citizens to join us in prayer that Almighty God may comfort those who mourn, grant protection to all who serve, and bring blessed peace to the world.
This paragraph reaffirms the nation's debt to fallen heroes and concludes with a call for national prayer seeking comfort for mourners, protection of service members, and world peace.
In honor of all of our fallen heroes, the Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 11, 1950, as amended (36 U.S.C. 116), has requested the President 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 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.
This paragraph provides the legal basis for the proclamation, citing a 1950 Congressional resolution and a later public law that established the National Moment of Remembrance at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Memorial Day, May 26, 2025, 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 when people might unite in prayer. I ask all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day. I also request the Governors of the United States and its Territories, and the appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct that on Memorial Day the flag be flown at half-staff until noon on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States and in all areas under its jurisdiction and control. I also request citizens to display the flag at half-staff from their homes for the customary forenoon period.
This is the core of the proclamation.
President Trump officially designates Memorial Day 2025 as a day of prayer for peace, sets aside 11:00 a.m. for unified prayer, and asks for the National Moment of Remembrance at 3:00 p.m.; he also requests that flags be flown at half-staff until noon.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.
This formal closing statement confirms the signing of the proclamation, specifying the date and year.
DONALD J. TRUMP
The President's signature.
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