Proclamation

ON AUGUST 16TH, THE CITY OF NEW YORK MARKS THE BICENTENNIAL'S MOST SPECTACULAR ATHLETIC EVENT — A 9,000 MILE LIBERTY TORCH MARATHON RELAY RUN THROUGH ALL FIFTY STATES. IT STARTED ON JUNE 26TH IN BATTERY PARK.

THE LIBERTY TORCH MARATHON CELEBRATES THE COMMITMENT AND DETERMINATION OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

SINCE THE CAPTAIN AND 24 MEMBERS OF THE 33-MAN LIBERTY TORCH RUNNING TEAM ARE RESIDENTS OF THIS GREAT CITY, THE UNPRECEDENTED MARATHON ALSO DEMONSTRATES THE STAMINA AND COURAGE OF NEW YORKERS.

THE LIBERTY TORCH HAS BEEN SEEN ACROSS THE LAND. IT HAS INSPIRED OFFICIALS AND ORDINARY CITIZENS ALIKE, MANY OF WHOM JOINED THE RUNNERS WHEN THEY PASSED THROUGH TOWNS AND VILLAGES.

AS A RECORD-BREAKING, SELF-INITIATED AND SELF-FINANCED ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENT, THE LIBERTY TORCH RELAY RUN SYMBOLIZES AMERICA'S ENTERPRISE, SPIRITUAL ACHIEVEMENTS AND FAITH IN ITSELF, AS WELL AS NEW YORK CITY'S GET-UP-AND-GO PHILOSOPHY.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ABRAHAM D. BEAME, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 1976, AS

“LIBERTY TORCH DAY”

IN NEW YORK CITY, AND URGE OUR CITIZENS TO GREET THESE INTREPID ATHLETES.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I HAVE HEREUNTO SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK TO BE AFFIXED.

ABRAHAM D. BEAME
MAYOR, THE CITY OF NEW YORK