Today
a senseless act of violence has robbed the United States of a close
friend and robbed the world of a statesman and courageous champion of
peace.
Yitzhak
Rabin was a brave man who defended his country for half a century and
whose vision and tenacity brought the world closer to peace. He was a
man of hope, a man of wisdom, a man who sought to improve the lives of
all those he touched.
The
peace process that he began will be his legacy. The people of the United
States and the peace-loving people of the world are determined that the
peace process will go forward.
As
a mark of respect for the memory of Yitzhak Rabin and America's support
for peace in the Middle East, I hereby order that the flag of the United
States shall be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and
grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval
vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and
throughout the United States and its territories and possessions until
his internment.
I
also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same
length of time at all United States Embassies, legations, consular
offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities
and naval vessels and stations.
In
witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of
November, in the year of our Lord nineteen-hundred and ninety-five, and
of the Independence of the United States of America, the
two-hundred-and-twentieth.
