President Obama's Columbus Day Proclamation

WASHINGTON - The White House released President Barak Obama's Presidential Proclamation declaring Monday, October 10, 2011, as Columbus Day.

The Proclamation reads in part:

"In commemoration of Christopher Columbus's historic voyage 519 years ago, the Congress, by joint resolution of April 30,1934, and modified in 1968 (36 U.S.C. 107), as amended, has requested the President proclaim the second Monday of October of each year as "Columbus Day.""

Monday is an official national holiday. Many federal offices will be closed to commemorate the occasion. You should call any federal agency before you make a trip to see if they are open.

For the sake of inclusion, the Presidential Proclamation mentions the indigenous peoples who lived in the Western hemisphere, in the following text:

"These explorers, and countless others that followed them, encountered indigenous peoples that had lived in the Western hemisphere for tens of thousands of years. On this day, we also remember the tragic hardships these communities endured. We honor their countless and ongoing contributions to our Nation, and we recommit to strengthening the tribal communities that continue to enrich the fabric of American life."