National Public Lands Day, 2012

Proclamation 8871 of September 28, 2012

National Public Lands Day, 2012

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

When Thomas Jefferson described the view from
Monticello in 1786, he wrote, ``How sublime to look
down into the workhouse of nature, to see her clouds,
hail, snow, rain, thunder, all fabricated at our
feet!'' Though much has changed in the years since our
third President put those words to paper, the sense of
awe and reverence he expressed still courses through
the American spirit. Our expansive landscapes remain an
inspiration for all to behold, and as an essential
piece of our heritage, it is incumbent upon us to
protect them not only in our time, but for all time.

Today, thousands of Americans will take up that task by
volunteering to care for our public lands. Cities and
communities across our country will join together to
restore the lands and waters we share, and families
nationwide will explore the natural splendor that
stretches from our Atlantic shores to the Pacific's
rocky coasts. As we take time to connect with America's
great outdoors in urban and rural areas alike, we are
reminded of the varied roles our public lands play in
our national life. These areas boost tourism and
contribute to public health; they power local
economies, fuel tomorrow's energy solutions, and serve
as critical havens of biodiversity; and just as they
always have, our public lands remain places of
irreplaceable beauty. Through the America's Great
Outdoors initiative, my Administration has worked to
expand access to these important spaces while ensuring
they are protected for future generations, and moving
forward, we will continue to advance that vital
mission.

The rugged grandeur of the American landscape has
helped shape our character and our soul as a Nation. As
we celebrate this National Public Lands Day, let us
reflect on the lands and waters that so deeply enrich
our experience, and let us renew our commitment to
protecting them in the years to come.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim September 29, 2012,
as National Public Lands Day. I encourage all Americans
to participate in a day of public service for our
lands.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord
two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
seventh.