the fitness of our youth can be promoted by the determined and coordinated efforts of all our citizens

it is imperative that our young people be aware of their obligation to themselves, their families, and to their country to maintain their vigor and fitness

During this period I encourage all Americans to judge the value of highway transportation to their own activities and to our National welfare.

I also urge the Governors of the States to issue similar proclamations and ask the appropriate officials of the Federal and State Governments, public and private organizations, and the general public to join in observance of this…

I, John F. Kennedy, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the week of May 21-27, 1961, as National Highway Week in recognition of the vital role of highway transportation in our way of life.

I believe that our future can be bright.

Therefore, I ask you to support civil emergency planning in your local communities.

This carefully planned program would prevent an enemy from using our radio stations to assist him, and yet permits emergency broadcasting such as you now hear.

To those participating in this 3-day exercise, I express my appreciation for your active response to the obligations of citizenship in a free country.

For unless individual Americans plan to protect their own families--the most ambitious and carefully organized activities of government will prove inadequate.

Should the United States ever be subjected to direct enemy attack Conelrad and the National Emergency Broadcasting System will be vital to our defense.

Common prudence demands that we take all necessary measures to protect our homes, our institutions, and our way of life.

And I welcome it--and I welcome it tonight.

Only the United States has the power and the resources and the determination.

We do not expect war.

Fellow Americans:The annual civil defense exercise of which this broadcast is a part is a test of our program of peaceful preparedness.

We believe that our freedom and our liberty are worth protecting.

The voluntary participation of the radio and television broadcasters of the nation at their own expense is a commendable example of individual responsibility which is so essential to the survival of this Nation.

I believe that we are going to fail as well as succeed, but I believe that we are at least going to make the effort.

I said in my State of the Union Address that we intended to give equal attention to both-and we intend to do so.

It is true that your government, too, must fulfill its responsibility in civil defense with vigorous leadership.

We are a people of strong faith in ourselves and in our institutions.

I said in my Inaugural Address that no group of people in any generation since democracy was first developed by the ancient Greeks nearly twenty-four or -five hundred years ago, have ever borne a responsibility as great as ours.

It is also true, however, that individual preparedness, which is beyond the province of government, is essential to an effective civil defense.

We are prepared to meet our obligations, but we can only defend the freedom of those who are determined to be free themselves.