(单词翻译:单击)
On June 14, 1777, the Second Constitutional Congress adopted a flag with thirteen stripes and thirteen stars to represent our Nation, one star for each of our founding colonies. The stars were set upon a blue field, in the words of the Congress’s resolution, “representing a new constellation” in the night sky. What was then a fledgling democracy has flourished and expanded, as we constantly strive toward a more perfect Union.
1777年6月14日,第二届制宪会议(Second Constitutional Congress)决定采用有十三道条纹和十三颗星星的旗帜来代表美国,每颗星代表一个创始殖民地。据制宪会议解释,这些以一片蓝色为背景的星星“代表夜空中的一个新星座”。随着我们为建设更完美的联邦而不断努力,当时初生的民主体制已经发展壮大。
Through the successes and struggles we have faced, the American flag has been ever present. It has flown on our ships and military bases around the world as we continue to defend liberty and democracy abroad. It has been raised in yards and on porches across America on days of celebration, and as a sign of our shared heritage. And it is lowered on days of remembrance to honor fallen service members and public servants; or when tragedy strikes and we join together in mourning. Our flag is the mark of one country, one people, uniting under one banner.
在我们经历的成功和斗争中,国旗始终与我们同在。当我们继续在海外捍卫自由民主时,它在我们的船舰和世界各地的军事基地上飘扬。在庆祝节日时,它插遍美国各地的庭院和阳台,象征着我们共享的传统。在缅怀殉职的军人和公仆时或在悲剧发生后集体哀悼时,我们会降半旗志哀。我们的国旗标志着一个国家及全体人民在一面旗帜下团结一心。
When the American flag soars, so too does our Nation and the ideals it stands for. We remain committed to defending the liberties and freedoms it represents, and we give special thanks to the members of the Armed Forces who wear our flag proudly. On Flag Day, and during National Flag Week, we celebrate the powerful beacon of hope that our flag has become for us all, and for people around the world.
当国旗升起时,我们的国家及国旗所代表的理想也随之弘扬。我们坚定不移地捍卫它所代表的自由,也对身着国旗并为之自豪的军人表达特别的谢忱。在国旗日和国旗周期间,我们赞颂国旗,对于我们乃至全世界人民,它代表着一座强大的希望灯塔。
To commemorate the adoption of our flag, the Congress, by joint resolution approved August 3, 1949, as amended (63 Stat. 492), designated June 14 of each year as “Flag Day” and requested that the President issue an annual proclamation calling for its observance and for the display of the flag of the United States on all Federal Government buildings. The Congress also requested, by joint resolution approved June 9, 1966, as amended (80 Stat. 194), that the President annually issue a proclamation designating the week in which June 14 occurs as “National Flag Week” and call upon citizens of the United States to display the flag during that week.
为纪念我国国旗的采用,国会于1949年8月3日批准了一项联合议案(后经修订,63 Stat.492),将每年6月14日定为“国旗日”,并要求总统发布年度公告,号召民众庆祝此一节日,并在联邦政府的所有建筑物上悬挂国旗。国会还于1966年6月9日批准了另一项联合议案(后经修订,80 Stat. 194),要求总统每年发布公告,将6月14日所在的周宣布为“国旗周”,并号召美国公民在这一周悬挂国旗。
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim June 14, 2011, as Flag Day and the week beginning June 12, 2011, as National Flag Week. I direct the appropriate officials to display the flag on all Federal Government buildings during that week, and I urge all Americans to observe Flag Day and National Flag Week by displaying the flag. I also call upon the people of the United States to observe with pride and all due ceremony those days from Flag Day through Independence Day, also set aside by the Congress (89 Stat. 211), as a time to honor America, to celebrate our heritage in public gatherings and activities, and to publicly recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.
为此,我,美利坚合众国总统巴拉克‧奥巴马,特此宣布2011年6月14日为国旗日,从2011年6月12日开始的一周为国旗周。我指示有关人员这一周在所有联邦政府建筑物上悬挂国旗,并吁请所有美国人通过悬挂国旗来庆祝国旗日和国旗周。我也吁请美国民众从国旗日到亦由国会指定的独立纪念日(89 Stat.211)期间以所有适当典礼自豪地表达对祖国的敬意,在公开集会及活动中弘扬我们的传统,并在公开场合向美利坚合众国国旗宣誓效忠。
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
我谨于公元2011年,即美利坚合众国独立第235年6月10日,亲笔在此签名为证。
BARACK OBAMA
巴拉克‧奥巴马