Proclamation 3180—National Maritime Day, 1957

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 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 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 22nd day of April in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and fifty-seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and eighty-first.

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER

By the President:

JOHN FOSTER DULLES,

Secretary of State