National Wilderness Month, 2010

Proclamation 8553 of August 31, 2010

National Wilderness Month, 2010

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

For centuries, the American spirit of exploration and
discovery has led us to experience the majesty of our
Nation's wilderness. From raging rivers to serene
prairies, from mountain peaks slicing the skyline to
forests teeming with life, our Nation's landscapes have
provided wonder, inspiration, and strength to all
Americans. Many sites continue to hold historical,
cultural, and religious significance for Indian tribes,
the original stewards of this continent. We must
continue to preserve and protect these scenic places
and the life that inhabits them so they may be
rediscovered and appreciated by generations to come.

As we celebrate America's abundance of diverse lands,
remarkable wildlife, and untamed beauty during National
Wilderness Month, we also look back on our rich history
of conservation. It was over 100 years ago that
President Theodore Roosevelt marveled at the stark
grandeur of the Grand Canyon and declared, ``the ages
have been at work on it, and man can only mar it.''
Since that time, administrations have worked across
party lines to defend America's breathtaking natural
sites. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the
Wilderness Act in 1964, and many Presidents have since
added new places to this great network of protected
lands so that millions of acres of forests, monuments,
and parks will be preserved for our children and
grandchildren.

Following in the footsteps of my predecessors, I signed
the Omnibus Public Land Management Act last year to
restore and protect more of our cherished wild spaces.
In April of this year, I established the America's
Great Outdoors Initiative to develop a community-based
21st century conservation agenda that can also spur job
creation in the tourism and recreation industries. My
Administration will continue to work closely with our
State, local, and tribal partners to connect Americans
with the great outdoors.

This month, we renew our pledge to build upon the
legacy of our forebears. Together, we must ensure that
future generations can experience the tranquility and
grandeur of America's natural places. As we resolve to
meet this responsibility, let us also reflect on the
ways in which our lives have been enriched by the gift
of the American wilderness.

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 2010 as
National Wilderness Month. I invite all Americans to
visit and enjoy our wilderness areas, to learn about
their vast history, and to aid in the protection of our
precious national treasures.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
thirty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord two
thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.