National Park Week, 2009

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Part II

The President

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Proclamation 8362--National Park Week, 2009

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 8362 of April 17, 2009

National Park Week, 2009

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

America's National Parks are among our Nation's most
precious treasures. During National Park Week, we
celebrate these spaces and commit to protecting them
for future generations of Americans.

National Parks bring together Americans of all
backgrounds and help us understand the story of
America. From the Lincoln Memorial and Ellis Island to
the Great Smoky Mountains and Yellowstone, National
Parks attract visitors from across the country and from
all walks of life. The grandeur and simplicity of these
areas inspire visitors no matter their personal
stories. National Parks also help Americans learn more
about our shared history. From the Prehistoric
Trackways National Monument to the Civil War
battlefield at Gettysburg, National Parks allow
Americans to explore our Nation's past and to
understand events that occurred over the long course of
our history.

Our system of National Parks is entrusted to each
generation of Americans. We have an obligation to our
children to keep these spaces pristine. As citizen
stewards, Americans can participate in efforts in their
communities to preserve National Parks, and support
policies that achieve this end. My Administration
continues to advocate for initiatives that protect and
expand National Parks. The American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act promotes conservation and creates new
job opportunities in National Parks, and the Omnibus
Public Land Management Act designates thousands of
miles of trails for the National Trails System,
protects more than 1,000 miles of rivers, and secures
millions of acres of wilderness.

This week we also honor the committed professionals and
volunteers working every day to support the National
Parks. Laboring among towering mountains and broad
plains, in city centers, and along our rivers and
seashores, these Americans deserve thanks for their
contributions to current and future generations.

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 April 18 through
April 26, 2009, as National Park Week. I invite all my
fellow citizens to join me in commemorating the 2009
theme for National Park Week, ``National and Community
Service,'' and to visit these wonderful spaces,
discover all they have to offer, and become active
participants in Park conservation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
seventeenth day of April, in the year of our Lord two
thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.