National Maritime Day Proclamations 1953 to 1960 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower honor American Merchant Marine

National Maritime Day Proclamation 1953

National Maritime Day Proclamation 1954

National Maritime Day Proclamation 1955

National Maritime Day Proclamation 1956

National Maritime Day Proclamation 1957

National Maritime Day Proclamation 1958

National Maritime Day Proclamation 1959

National Maritime Day Proclamation 1960

National Maritime Day Proclamation 1953 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower of the United States of America

WHEREAS the American Merchant Marine has continued to aid in developing our peaceful commercial relations with the nations of the free world; and

WHEREAS, through the prompt delivery of supplies and equipment to our armed forces overseas, and of cargoes representing economic and military aid to friendly nations, the American Merchant Marine has effectively helped to strengthen the forces of freedom throughout the world; and

WHEREAS the Congress by a joint resolution approved May 20, 1933 (48 Stat. 73), designated May 22 as National Maritime Day, thus honoring the Merchant Marine by commemorating the departure from Savannah, Georgia, on May 22, 1819, of The Savannah, on the first transoceanic voyage by any steamship, and requested the President to issue a proclamation annually calling for the observance of that day:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, President of the United States of America, do hereby urge the people of the United States to observe Friday, May 22, 1953, as National Maritime Day by displaying the flag of the United States at their homes or other suitable places; and I direct the appropriate officials of the Government to arrange for the display of the flag on all Government buildings on that day. I also request that all ships sailing under the American flag dress ship on the appointed day in honor of our Merchant Marine.

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 eighth day of May in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and fifty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and seventy-seventh.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

National Maritime Day Proclamation 1954 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower of the United States of America

WHEREAS the American Merchant Marine continues to further the economic welfare of the United States by its promotion of international trade and travel, and continues to render vital service in the strengthening of our national security; and

WHEREAS present world conditions require that the American Merchant Marine, as well as all other branches of our industry and economy, be ready at all times to serve in defense of the cause of freedom; and

WHEREAS the Congress by a joint resolution approved May 20, 1933 (48 Stat. 73), designated May 22 as National Maritime Day, thus honoring our Merchant Marine by commemorating the departure from Savannah, Georgia, on May 22, 1819, of the Savannah on the first transoceanic voyage by any steamship, and requested the President to issue a proclamation annually calling for the observance of that day:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, President of the United States of America, do hereby call upon the people of the United States to observe Saturday, May 22, 1954, as National Maritime Day by displaying the flag of the United States at their homes or other suitable places; and I direct the appropriate officials of the Government to arrange for the display of the flag on all Government buildings on that day. I also request that all ships sailing under the American flag dress ship on the designated day in honor of our Merchant Marine.

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 eighth day of May in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and fifty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and seventy-eighth.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

National Maritime Day Proclamation 1955 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower of the United States of America

WHEREAS the American Merchant Marine is today carrying on a long and honorable tradition of serving the trade and commerce of the world upon the high seas; and

WHEREAS American merchant ships and American seamen stand ready at all times to serve our Nation in the cause of freedom and justice; and

WHEREAS we have added to the United States Program for Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy a proposal to build an atomic-powered merchant ship that will visit the ports of the world to demonstrate to people everywhere atomic energy harnessed to peacetime uses for the benefit of mankind; and

WHEREAS the Congress by a joint resolution approved May 20, 1933 (48 Stat. 73), designated May 22 as National Maritime Day, thus honoring the Merchant Marine by commemorating the departure from Savannah, Georgia, on May 22, 1819, of the Savannah on the first transoceanic voyage by any steamship, and requested the President to issue a proclamation annually calling for the observance of that day; and

WHEREAS since May 22 falls on Sunday this year, it is appropriate that National Maritime Day be observed on the following Monday:

NOW, THEREFORE, I DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, President of the United States of America, do hereby urge the people of the United States to honor our Merchant Marine on Monday, May 23, 1955, by displaying the flag of the United States at their homes or other suitable places; and I direct the appropriate officials of the government to arrange for the display of the flag on all Government buildings on that day. I also request that all ships sailing under the American flag dress ship on Monday, May 23, in tribute to our Merchant Marine.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto sot my hand and caused the Seal of the United States of America to be affixed.

DONE at the City of Washington this tenth day of May in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and fifty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and seventy-ninth.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

National Maritime Day Proclamation 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower of the United States of America

WHEREAS American merchant ships are continuing to serve in their historic role of linking this Nation with its neighbors across the seas by means of trade and commerce; and

WHEREAS the continuance of trade between the United States and the other free nations of the world is vital to peace and prosperity; and

WHEREAS the Congress by a joint resolution approved May 20, 1933 (48 Stat. 73), designated May 22 as National Maritime Day, thus honoring our Merchant Marine by commemorating the departure from Savannah, Georgia, on May 22, 1819, of the Savannah on the first transoceanic voyage by any steamship, and requested the President to issue a proclamation annually calling for the observance of that day:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, President of the United States of' America, do hereby urge the people of the United States to honor our Merchant Marine on Tuesday, May 22, 1956, by displaying the flag of the United States at their homes or other suitable places; and I direct the appropriate officials of the Government to arrange for the display of the flag on all Government buildings on that day. I also request that all ships sailing under the American flag dress ship on Tuesday, May 22, in tribute to our Merchant Marine.

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 eighteenth day of April in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and fifty-six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and eightieth.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

National Maritime Day Proclamation 1957 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower of the United States of America

WHEREAS a strong and effective American Merchant Marine is essential to the economy and security of our Nation; and

WHEREAS the American Merchant Marine is carrying out its historic mission of linking the United States of America through trade and travel with friendly nations across the seas; and

WHEREAS American merchant ships and American seamen are ready at all times to serve our Nation in the cause of freedom and justice; and

WHEREAS the Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 20, 1933 (48 Stat. 73), designated May 22 as National Maritime Day, thus honoring our Merchant Marine by commemorating the departure from Savannah, Georgia. on May 22, 1819, of the Savannah on the first trans-oceanic voyage by any steamship, and requested the President to issue a proclamation annually calling for the observance of that day:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, President of the United States of America, do hereby urge the people of the United States to honor our Merchant Marine on Wednesday, May 22, 1957, by displaying the flag of the United States at their homes or other suitable places; and I direct the appropriate officials of the Government to arrange for the display of the flag on all Government buildings on that day. I also request that all ships sailing under the American flag dress ship on the twenty-second day of May in tribute to the American Merchant Marine.

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 twenty-second day of April in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and fifty seven, and of the Independence of the United States America the one hundred and eighty-first.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

National Maritime Day Proclamation 1958 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower of the United States of America

WHEREAS a strong American Merchant Marine is essential to the economy and security of the free world; and

WHEREAS 1958 marks the year in which the keel of the N. S. Savannah, the world's first nuclear-propelled merchant ship, will be dedicated by the people of the United States to peaceful trade and commerce; and

WHEREAS the Congress. by a joint resolution approved May 20, 1933 (48 Stat. 73), designated May 22 as National Maritime Day, in commemoration of the departure from Savannah, Georgia, on May 22, 1819, of a vessel, also named the Savannah, on the first trans-oceanic voyage by any steamship, and requested the President to issue a proclamation annually calling for the observance of that day:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, President of the United States of America, do hereby urge the people of the United States to honor our Merchant Marine on Thursday, May 22, 1958, by displaying the flag of the United States at their homes or other suitable places; and I direct the appropriate officials of the Government to arrange for the display of the flag on all Government buildings on that day. I also request that all ships sailing under the American flag dress ship on the twenty-second day of May in tribute to the American Merchant Marine.

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 tenth day of April in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and fifty-eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and eighty-second.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

National Maritime Day Proclamation 1959 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower of the United States of America

WHEREAS this is the year in which the N. S. Savannah, the world's first nuclear-powered merchant ship, will be launched upon the high seas; and

WHEREAS this ship provides another visible sign of the determination of the American people to devote the power of the atom to the furtherance of peaceful trade and to the progress of humanity; and

WHEREAS the Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 20, 1933 (48 Stat. 73), designated May 22 as National Maritime Day, in commemoration of the departure from Savannah, Georgia, on May 22, 1819, of the S. S. Savannah on the first transoceanic voyage by any steamship, and requested the President to issue a proclamation annually calling for the observance of that day:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, President of the United States of America, do hereby urge the citizens of the United States to honor our Merchant Marine on Friday, May 22, 1959, National Maritime Day, by displaying the flag of the United States at their homes or other suit-able places; and I direct the appropriate officials of the Government to arrange for the display of the flag on all Government buildings on that day.

I also request that all ships sailing under the American flag dress ship on National Maritime Day in tribute to the American Merchant Marine.

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 twenty-seventh day of April in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and fifty-nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and eighty-third.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

National Maritime Day Proclamation 1960 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower of the United States of America

WHEREAS ships that fly the flag of the United States serve our people in trade, commerce, and defense; and

WHEREAS American shipping is pioneering in the scientific development which this year will witness the harnessing of the atom for the benefit of mankind as the world's first nuclear-powered merchant ship, the N. S. Savannah, sails out upon the high seas; and

WHEREAS a strong United States Merchant Marine is essential to the economy and security of the free world; and

WHEREAS the Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 20, 1933 (48 Stat. 73), designated May 22 as National Maritime Day, in commemoration of the departure from Savannah, Georgia, on May 22, 1819, of the S. S. Savannah on the first transoceanic voyage by any steamship, and requested the President to issue a proclamation annually calling for the observance of that day; and

WHEREAS May 22 fails on Sunday this year, it is appropriate that National Maritime Day be observed on the following Monday:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, President of the United States of America, do hereby urge the people of the United States to honor our Merchant Marine on Monday, May 23, 1960, by displaying the flag of the United States at their homes or other suitable places; and I direct the appropriate officials of the Government to arrange for the display of the flag on all Government buildings on that day.

I also request that all ships sailing under the American flag dress ship on Monday, May 23, in tribute to the American Merchant Marine.

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 first day of April in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and sixty, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and eighty-fourth.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Maritime Day Proclamations by President Kennedy
Maritime Day Proclamations and Celebrations
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Proclamations courtesy Dwight David Eisenhower Presidential Library

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